Oil refineries intend to raise the preferential price of diesel fuel for supplying farmers by 16.7% from 2,400 to 2,800 hryvnias per ton. A representative of one of the Ukrainian oil refineries reported this to "Ukrainian News". \n \nAccording to the representative, the refineries have stopped supplying diesel fuel to farmers at the preferential price of 2,400 hryvnias per ton, but are ready to begin shipping fuel at the price of 2,800 hryvnias per ton at any moment. The representative reported that on March 24, a meeting of petroleum product producers was held at the Ministry of Fuel and Energy with the participation of Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov, at which they proposed a new preferential price for diesel fuel. According to his data, the authorities have so far not reacted in any way to the refineries' proposal. \n \nThe representative noted that according to the memorandum concluded with the government, the price of 2,400 hryvnias per ton of diesel fuel is fixed on the condition that the currency exchange rate does not change and the price of oil does not rise by more than 20%. \n \nAccording to his data, the price of oil for Ukrainian refineries has risen by 25% - from 240 dollars per ton in March to 300 dollars per ton in April, the market price of diesel fuel is 3,250 hryvnias per ton. \n \nThe representative added that the statements by Agrarian Policy Minister Oleksandr Baranivskyi about a secret conspiracy by the refineries are a consequence of insufficient awareness and poorly established interaction with the Ministry of Fuel and Energy. \n \nRecall that earlier the Ministry of Agrarian Policy announced that the refineries had stopped supplying diesel fuel at preferential prices to farmers due to their intention to raise prices. According to Baranivskyi, on March 30 representatives of oil refining enterprises secretly gathered and agreed to raise prices for diesel fuel. In Baranivskyi's opinion, the actions of the refineries contradict the legislation of Ukraine, and accordingly, the ministry will take all necessary measures to eliminate them. \n \nAs of March 23, 2005, the refineries supplied agricultural enterprises with 36.746 thousand tons of diesel fuel at preferential prices. \n \nIn February, the Cabinet of Ministers agreed with oil refining enterprises on the supply of 600 thousand tons of diesel fuel to farmers at a preferential price - 2,400 hryvnias/ton. \n \nAt the time of the agreement, the market price for diesel fuel was 2,950 hryvnias per ton.