The Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry expects that private producers will boost gas output by 25-30% this year, Ukrainian Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at Adam Smith Conferences' Ukrainian Energy Forum in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"This year we expect that private producers, the private sector, will boost gas production by 25-30%," he said.

As was reported, Ukraine saw a 1.4% decline in gas output in 2015 from 2014, to 19.896 billion cubic meters (bcm). NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy's companies reduced output by 4.9%, to 16.032 bcm, while other companies increased output by 16.6%, to 3.864 bcm.