KIEV, Oct. 11 - Ukraine will ask the International Monetary Fund to drop its demand that it hike natural gas prices for households amid expected massive production of cheaper gas in the country, Economy Minister Ihor Prasolov said.

The IMF delayed resumption of $15.2 billion loan to Ukraine for 2.5 years after Ukraine had rejected its demand for gas price hike, but the parties will resume talks again later this year.

“We want to exclude from our discussion the issue of raising gas prices for households,” Prasolov said.