KIEV, Sept. 4 - Ukraine's cabinet Wednesday decided to refund VAT paid by steel makers on imported equipment for upgrades within a five-day period, Industrial Policy Minister Vadym Novitsky told reporters.

The steel industry's other initiatives, such as temporary exemption from import duty on energy saving equipment and from the 12% mark-up on natural gas, and the right to mine coking coal deposits without having to bid at auctions, have not so far received backing, Novitsky said.