International Finance Corporation (IFC) is mulling the provision of a loan to traders to buy gas, store it in underground storage facilities, and then sell it on the Ukrainian market, Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday.

"For example, IFC is discussing the possibility of providing a loan to a trader which would take [gas] on its balance sheet, will store it and sell, for example, to Naftogaz Ukrainy. Various schemes are being discussed," he said.

Demchyshyn said that there are several traders who are ready to work using this scheme.

The minister said that in particular, IFC is mulling the provision of $300 million.

Demchyshyn said he had recently discussed the raising of loans worth around $1 billion to buy and pump gas in Ukraine with international financial organizations.

"We held several meetings in the United States with official power representatives and representatives of financial institutions like IFC, OPIC and the World Bank. There is understanding of some mechanisms. I think that in the near term the solution will be found," he added.