KIEV, Oct. 22 – Direct losses from the sale of natural gas to municipally owned heat suppliers and industrial enterprises will amount to UAH 17 billion in 2010 because the prices charged for the gas are not economically justified Deputy Naftogaz Ukrainy Vadym Chuprun said during a meeting at Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Ministry on the 2010/2011 autumn-winter heating season.

He said that even though the National Electricity Regulatory Commission raised the limit prices of gas for municipally owned heat suppliers by 50% as of August 1, 2010, the price is still a mere 44% of its economically justified level.