Ukraine will increase output of natural gas by at least 50% over the next three years to about 30 billion cubic meters a year, First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev said.
"Now, Ukraine is producing about 20 billion cu m of gas annually. But I think in three years we will boost the output at least 50%," Kliuyev said in a live interview with Channel 5 television late Monday.
"We have to be producing at least 30 billion cu m of gas [annually] in Ukraine," he added.
The comment highlights Ukraine's growing interest in tapping its shale gas deposits as the technology becomes available to extract it. Ukraine is thought to have one of the largest shale gas deposits in Europe.
Tapping the shale gas deposits would allow Ukraine to reduce dependence on Russia, its main gas supplier.
Russia suspended gas supplies to Ukraine, and to most of Europe, for almost three weeks in January 2008 over a price dispute.
Relations with Russia eased after the election of Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian politician, to the presidency in February this year.
In April, Yanukovych won a 30% discount on Russian gas prices for the next 10 years after agreeing to extend the stationing of Russian naval fleet in Sevastopol for 25 years through 2042.
In January through July 2010 Ukraine's natural gas production fell 6.4% year-on-year to 11.68 Bcm, down from 12.48 Bcm a year ago, according to the energy and fuel ministry.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of gas from Russia by 55.2% year-on-year to 17.7 Bcm from 11.4 Bcm in January-July 2009, according to the ministry.
"Now, Ukraine is producing about 20 billion cu m of gas annually. But I think in three years we will boost the output at least 50%," Kliuyev said in a live interview with Channel 5 television late Monday.
"We have to be producing at least 30 billion cu m of gas [annually] in Ukraine," he added.
The comment highlights Ukraine's growing interest in tapping its shale gas deposits as the technology becomes available to extract it. Ukraine is thought to have one of the largest shale gas deposits in Europe.
Tapping the shale gas deposits would allow Ukraine to reduce dependence on Russia, its main gas supplier.
Russia suspended gas supplies to Ukraine, and to most of Europe, for almost three weeks in January 2008 over a price dispute.
Relations with Russia eased after the election of Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian politician, to the presidency in February this year.
In April, Yanukovych won a 30% discount on Russian gas prices for the next 10 years after agreeing to extend the stationing of Russian naval fleet in Sevastopol for 25 years through 2042.
In January through July 2010 Ukraine's natural gas production fell 6.4% year-on-year to 11.68 Bcm, down from 12.48 Bcm a year ago, according to the energy and fuel ministry.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of gas from Russia by 55.2% year-on-year to 17.7 Bcm from 11.4 Bcm in January-July 2009, according to the ministry.
