Energy sector reforms have been suspended just after the beginning. European partners are disappointed: Kyiv deceives them. Ukrainian consumers continue to pay to offshore intermediaries. Razumkov Centre’s expert on energy issues Volodymyr Omelchenko explains the reasons for this situation. “There is an oligarchic consensus between the state top managers and the big business that controls regional gas companies”, — he said. The expert points out that the monopoly position of regional gas companies is the main factor in raising gas prices for the population, as well as raising the purchase prices. Omelchenko stresses that in exchange for the monopoly right to sale gas to the population regional gas companies are responsible for the repair of gas networks.

However, how much money is invested in modernization and how well it is done nobody controls. “There are simply no such authorities in public bodies”, — expert said.