OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2012. Ukraine during 2011 year agreed on cooperation with 21 companies in the production of hydrocarbons, particularly shale gas and coal bed methane. Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko said this at a briefing for representatives of foreign media.

"Last year we were being carried out significant work to attract foreign companies to hydrocarbon production in Ukraine. In February 2011 we signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine Government and the Government of United States on gas resources from unconventional sources. Overall during 2011 year we brought into Ukraine 21 companies engaged in extraction of hydrocarbons"- the Minister said.

He explained that these companies will come to Ukraine with its advanced technology and cooperation with them will increase gas production in Ukraine, including shale gas and coal bed methane. Yuriy Boyko said that it have already signed cooperation agreements with some of these companies.

The Minister emphasized that foreign companies show significant interest to extraction of shale gas in Ukraine.

At the same time Yuriy Boyko said that the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry on January 18-19, together with leading energy consultancy IHS CERA hold the final conference on "Natural gas and Ukraine's energy future".

"By the way, on January 18-19, in Kyiv will be held the final conference on shale gas production with the participation of the most famous agency - CERA, which is a leading energy consulting company in the world", - Yuriy Boyko said.