The progress of preparation of the housing and communal services sector and the social sphere for operation during the heating period of 2021/22 was discussed at a meeting of the Anti-Crisis Energy Headquarters chaired by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

A meeting of the Anti-Crisis Energy Headquarters gathered together Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov, Chairman of the National Energy and Utilities Regulation Commission Valerii Tarasyuk, representatives of ministries, energy companies and MPs.

According to the Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov, preparations for the heating season are carried out according to the schedule and as usual. On the data provided by regional state administrations, as of mid-July, more than 50% of residential buildings, social and cultural facilities, 51% of boiler houses, and 54% of heating networks have been prepared.

Moreover, the Minister noted in terms of preparing communal heating enterprises for the heating season, the first thing to take into account is the financial capacity of companies to purchase gas and pay off old debts to the natural gas supplier NJSC Naftogaz.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stressed that in this regard, the implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum between the Government and local authorities on the settlement of problematic issues in the field of centralized heating supply and hot water supply was critical before the heating season commenced.

"The Memorandum has confirmed our common intention to resolve energy issues in order to protect the well-being of citizens. Nowadays, most of the provisions of the Memorandum are being implemented, but it is critical to implement all the provisions before the start of the heating season," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Head of Government commissioned the Minister for Communities and Territories Development to urgently convene relevant meetings and inform on a daily basis regarding the implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum in terms of paying off the debt to the district heating providers.