C Citigroup Inc

KIEV, Ukraine--Ukraine's energy regulator will raise its minimum price for natural-gas for households "around threefold," an official at the regulator said Tuesday, a key overhaul demanded by the International Monetary Fund in return for a new lending program.

The price rise will come into effect on April 1, said the official from the National Commission for Regulation of the Energy and Communal Services. Ukraine is hurrying to complete overhauls demanded by the IMF to seal a $17.5-billion loan deal that it needs to avert financial collapse.

Ukrainian governments have for years dragged their feet over raising heavily subsidized household gas prices, saying the move would place too heavy a burden on citizens.

Write to Nick Shchetko at realtimedesklondon@dowjones.com

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