The Government prevented the process of destroying the gas industry and pays every effort to ensure growth of domestic gas production by 7 bn cu m in 5 years, which will afford to gain energy independence, competitiveness and to provide the national security. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said to journalists during his trip to Shebelinkagasvydobuvannya Gas Production Division in the framework of a working visit to Kharkiv region on Friday.

"Over many decades, especially since 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 through 2013, PJSC  UkrGasVydobuvannya that is a state enterprise dealing with gas extraction, and called to create energy independence of our country was on the brink of destruction. We have brought this process to a halt", urged Volodymyr Groysman.

In particular, the Government has begun to issue permits for exploration – this year there have been issued 14 against a single permit during the previous 7 years. Moreover, today the development of the upper horizon of the Shebelinka gas field has triggered. Experts are optimistic about the volumes of gas reserves in this field, said Volodymyr Groysman.

"Our goal is to boost the domestic production by 7 billion cubic meters of gas for 5 years. Do not pay money, currency for import, but we must develop our Ukrainian gas and this gas should be ours. This will significantly strengthen our position in energy independence and national security, and will improve our competitiveness, and most importantly, we will be able to pass through the heating season rather efficiently", he said.

"We will continue to support this advancement. We will do our utmost to support Ukrainian gas production and assert our independence", assured the Prime Minister.

The Head of Government noted that the oil and gas sector had used to be entwined with corruption. Now the Government is engaged in bringing order and eliminating any corruption schemes, making efforts to increase national production of Ukrainian gas and ensures publicity of the process.

According to him, some don’t take it with optimism: "Of course, those who earned hundreds of millions of dollars or even billions, I'd say they are not optimistic about it. Hence, there will be much discussion about it”.