OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2008. Oil and gas complex of Ukraine faces strategic tasks, to ensure practical realization of which the Government follows a policy which would enable to secure sustainable functioning and further progress in the branch’s development.

First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Olexandr Turchynov stressed during the festive gathering on the occasion of the Day of workers of oil, gas and petroleum refining industry of Ukraine and the 60-th anniversary of gas-transport system of Ukraine.

The First Vice Prime Minister noted that the current year saw more than sixfold increase of the state support of oil and gas system as compared to the last year.

Targeting predictable character of functioning of oil market and oil products the Government has taken practical steps to ensure interaction between the authorities and business. As a result, the recent month prices for petroleum have dropped by over 30 copecks, as Olexandr Turchynov explained.

He considers, a significant role in further development of oil and gas complex is laid on NaftoGas of Ukraine, which at the end of last year had been on the verge of bankruptcy. According to the First Vice Prime Minister, only owing to an effective activity of the incumbent Government and leaders of the company the situation has been changed for the better, in fact, from February of the current year. He was quoted as saying, a complex of Government decisions has been approved which afforded to revive financial state of the company and ensure economical activity without losses on the home market as well as to raise salaries of the staff.

Olexandr Turchynov informed that for 8 months of operation of enterprises belonging to the NJSC NaftoGas of Ukraine payments to the budgets of all levels have been increased more than twofold against analogous period of 2007. During January-August of 2008 transit of natural gas via the territory of Ukraine has upped by 12.7 bn cu m and totaled 83.9 bn cu m.

According to the First Vice Prime Minister, the Government has defined as one of topmost priorities of activity of both Fuel and Energy Ministry and NJSC NaftoGas of Ukraine in 2008 the growth of volumes of oil, natural gas and gas condensate production.

Among the positive achievements of the Government in energy domain Olexandr Turchynov also called regulating of issues of gas-transport system of Ukraine. “The stand of our Government in this issue is clear – gas-transport system of Ukraine is the property of Ukrainian state, its reorganizing and privatization are banned, which is stipulated by respective legislative acts,” he explained.

On behalf of the Government the First Vice Prime Minister Olexandr Turchynov congratulated all the workers of oil, gas and oil refining industry on the professional holiday and awarded the best with the Diplomas of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Diplomas of the Prime Minister of Ukraine.