OREANDA-NEWS. June 28, 2013. Among the principal tasks of Ukraine there still remains raising of the level of energy safety of the country at the account of increasing volumes of domestic extraction of hydrocarbons, diversifying of sources of import of natural gas and replacement of natural gas by alternative energy kinds, Prime Minister has said during the session of the Cabinet of Ministers.

In this connection, the most important directions of activities are development of the shelf of Black and Azov Seas; development of untraditional gas reserves; realization of a project of supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukraine; modernization of gas transport system and underground gas storages; access to Eurasian pipelines on the basis of provisions of free trade area between the CIS states, so that to have an opportunity to transport gas from Middle Asia and Azerbaijan.

Mykola Azarov emphasized that an optimistic variant of the development of extraction of hydrocarbons by enterprises of Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC envisages increase of gas extraction in 2015 in the amount of 21 bln cu m and oil with gas condensate over 3 mln tons (respectively by 17 and 8 % more as compared to the showings of 2011).

Moreover, Ukraine is growing extraction of domestic natural gas on the shelf of the Black and Azov Seas.

Accoridng to the Premier, with an aim to apply advanced technologies and draw investments into development of oil-gas resources of the shelf of the Black Sea there are held negotiations, elaborated legal and technical questions of cooperation with a series of leading oil-gas companies of the world. In particular, there have been concluded cooperation agreements and coordinated working programs with such companies as Eni Ukraine Holdings (Italy), Total S.A. (France), CBM Oil (Great Britain). Relations on the basis of earlier concluded agreements with RWE Dea AG (Germany) are actively developed.

There exist other examples of successful bilateral cooperation: cooperation with Shell in extraction of shale gas in the nearest five years can afford to Ukraine to completely cover its needs with gas, besides, into Ukraine’s economics there will be drawn investments to the tune of around USD 10 bln, will be ensured huge orders for Ukrainian pipe works.

“Our Government is open for the negotiation process with investors who will have a desire to participate in energy projects on mutually beneficial conditions,” Mykola Azarov summed up.