The Ukraine intends to reach gas independence within 5 years

By 2021 the Ukraine might fully provide itself with gas, the head of Ukrgasdobycha, O. Prokhorenko, said.

According to him, in the mid-term perspective the Ukraine is able to fully refuse from gas import. It needs to double gas extraction in the country for that purpose. Annually the Ukraine’s economy burns over 40 bln cubic m of gas, and extracts less than 20 bln cubic m.

Prokhorenko considers such plans to be real. He says that Ukrgasdobycha by 2020 might increase gas extraction to 20 bln cubic m a year from the current 14.5 bln.

We have reserves. They need to be constantly studied. Investment is needed for that. At the normal civil rent at 20-30% we will be able to reach it, he said.

In 2015 the volume of gas extraction in the Ukraine fell by 3% to 19.9 bln cubic m.

The PM Yatsenyuk also spoke about the country’s gas independence. But he meant 10 years for that.