Public joint-stock company Ukrtransgaz has signed contracts on cooperation in transportation of natural gas and its storage in Ukrainian underground storage facilities with TrailStone Energy LLC and DufEnergy Trading SA.

"Ukraine has opened its gas market to European suppliers. Today three contracts on transportation of natural gas and its storage in Ukrainian storage facilities have been signed," the company said.

The press service said that TrailStone, DufEnergy and Engie (earlier GDF Suez SA) that signed the similar contract with Ukrtransgaz in October until recently sold gas to Ukrainian traders on the Ukrainian border.

"We are actively working on attracting European traders to work on the Ukrainian gas market. We are waiting for pilot supplies in December," Ukrtransgaz President Ihor Prokopiv said.

The signing of the contracts would permit European companies to supply gas to Ukraine and directly sell it to Ukrainian traders and consumers.