Naftogaz could achieve extraction of 21 bcm of gas in 2015, says premier
The enterprises of the national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy could achieve the extraction of 21 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2015, Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov said when opening a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"The optimistic scenario for developing hydrocarbon extraction by companies of Naftogaz Ukrainy foresees an increase in extraction in 2014 – to over 21 billion cubic meters of gas and over three million tonnes of oil with gas condensate, which is 17% and 18% up on 2011," he said.
Azarov added that Ukraine is also working on cooperation with some global extracting companies.
"In particular, agreements of cooperation have been signed with such companies as Eni (Italy), Total (France) and CBM Oil (Britain) and working programs with them have been agreed. Relations on the basis of agreements earlier signed with RWE (Germany) are being actively developed," he said.
The premier took the successful cooperation with Shell company as an example.
"Cooperation with Shell in the coming five years could allow Ukraine to fully satisfy the country's need for gas. Around $10 billion in investment will be attracted to the Ukrainian economy and large orders will be placed with Ukrainian pipe plants," he said.
Along with the active development of Ukraine's own traditional and non-traditional, shelf hydrocarbon deposits, Azarov said that it is important to receive access to the Eurasian pipelines to Ukraine (under the agreement on a free trade zone with the CIS) to pump Asian and Azeri gas.
As reported, the enterprises of Naftogaz Ukrainy in 2012 increased gas extraction by 0.5% or 93.8 million cubic meters, to 18.207 billion cubic meters.
