KIEV, July 19 – Preparations for the winter heating season are proceeding ahead of schedule, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul said.

"The preparations for winter are proceeding ahead of schedule, and nearly 55% of the preparatory work has already been performed," he said during a conference call in Kiev on Friday.

Vilkul noted that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had set the task of reducing natural gas consumption within three years.

"Since 2010, thanks to our actions, the consumption of natural gas by enterprises of the housing and utilities sector has already shrunk by 10%. This season's task is to reduce gas consumption by at least 5%, and services must be provided in full and with the better quality than in previous years," he said.