Ukraine to become energy independent by 2020 - PM
Ukraine by the end of 2016 would extract 50 million cubic meters of gas more than in 2015 and next year – 500 million cubic meters more, and by 2020 the country would become energy independent, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.
"In six months we extract plus 50 million [cubic meters of gas]. Next year we will extract at least 500 million cubic meters of own gas more. In five years by 2020 we could boost it to 7 billion cubic meters of gas. This means that actually we will live consuming our own gas," he said at Kherson State Maritime Academy on Thursday.
The prime minister said that boosting of Ukrainian gas production is recorded after a period of permanent decline. He said that Ukraine is to produce own gas and the country should invest in it. Public joint-stock company Ukrgazvydobuvannia is working on this.
Groysman said that development of gas production in Ukraine absolutely meets the government's top priority to achieve the country's energy independence.
"Ukraine must become energy independent state. Gas production is one of the top priorities. We can boost gas production in three or five years and reduce gas consumption. This would help us to be fully independent from imported gas," the prime minister said.
