KIEV, Dec. 4 – Ukraine will provide UAH 21.5 billion of subsidies to control household natural gas heating prices next year, according to the government’s proposed 2013 budget.

According to the document, which was submitted to Parliament on Monday, Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state’s gas importer, will pay that much more for imports from Russia and other countries than it receives from local Oblenergos which produce heat for consumer households.

The budget envisions government borrowing to bridge this gap.