KIEV, Dec. 24 – Ukraine’s ability to pay for imported natural gas on time and ensure stable heating services in the country’s regions is being threatened by unsatisfactory payments of heat supply companies for consumed gas, according to Gaz Ukrayiny.

Payments of heat supply companies for natural gas since the start of the heating season have worsened. The level of payments for gas consumed in 2007 is only 77%, and the debt of heat suppliers to Gaz Ukrayiny from Oct. 1 grew by UAH620 million, to UAH1.4 billion, more than a half of which is in four eastern regions, reads the report.