KYIV, Ukraine, September 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukraine always has been and always will be a reliable partner for transit of energy to Europe, stated the Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Boyko during his meeting with the representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps in Ukraine.

"Ukraine has demonstrated its commitment to integration with the European Union in the energy sector by becoming a full member of the Energy Community and carrying out comprehensive work to bring its energy sector in accordance with European requirements," stressed the Ukrainian energy minister.

Yuriy Boyko informed the foreign diplomats on the progress of negotiations with Russia over gas contracts review. He highlighted that regardless of the outcome of negotiations Ukraine will fulfill all its obligations to ensure the transit of Russian gas to European consumers. The Minister also noted that Ukraine is making every effort to resolve the gas issue with Russia. He stressed that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych insists on the amendments to the contract of 2009 to reduce the cost of Russian gas for Ukraine.

Earlier, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine released information about its plans to restructure national oil and gas monopolist Naftogaz, reduce gas consumption while increasing national gas production and the possibility of selling the excess of its own gas to Europe.

Currently, Ukraine produces about 20 billion cubic meters of gas annually and by 2015 it plans to increase it to 25 billion. Such increase will become possible as a result of the signed contract with Shell on joint gas extraction and future contracts with five other companies on alternative gas extraction, said Boyko.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, Ukraine will continue introducing measures to reduce its domestic gas consumption. Ukraine has already informed its Russian partners about the plan to purchase 27 billion cubic meters in 2012 vs. 40 billion in 2011. Some of the measures include the installation of electric compressors in the Ukrainian gas transportation system as well as the increase of coal mining. "We will substitute gas by coal in the energy balance of the country," claimed the minister.

SOURCE Worldwide News Ukraine