KIEV, Oct. 11 - The World Bank is expected to decide on October 18 whether to provide $500 million in loan guarantees to Ukraine for imports of natural gas, the bank reported in a statement.

Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national energy company, will be the recipient of the guarantees and will use them to borrow money from commercial banks.

A positive decision on the guarantees may also lead to a $200 million from the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private capital arm.