OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2011. The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine Mykola Zlochevskyy welcomes the intention of American investors to participate in the development of the Ukrainian deposits of shale gas.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ukraine and the USA, resource assessment of "alternative fuel" in Ukraine will be financed by the Department of State of USA. The information obtained will be evaluated by the United States Geological Service, which will convey the results to the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine. Thereafter, in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, the results of researches and geological simulation will be published, that information would attract the attention of foreign investors to Ukrainian shale deposits.

In fact, in late 2010, two leading international energy companies Shell and Chevron sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of the preliminary applications on development of Ukrainian gas reserves from unconventional sources.

"The fact that the world's largest companies are interested in our deposits, shows, above all, that there is еру trust to government - the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine Mykola Zlochevskyy said - and we have every reason to expect that the Ukrainian shale gas would significantly reduce our country's dependence on imported energy.

In addition, the U.S. side agreed to organize and finance the training of Ukrainian specialists to better understand the production potential, which our country owns now.

Reference. February 15, in Washington between Ukraine and the United States a memorandum of understanding was signed concerning gas resources from unconventional sources.