By the end of next week, the first four of 30 oil and gas lots up for auction will be announced

By the end of next week, the first four of 30 oil and gas lots up for auction will be announced by the State Geology and Subsoil Service. The electronic auctions are to be held through next spring. In addition, 14 Black Sea offshore lots are to be auctioned next year, pending a government decision on if they are to be production sharing agreements. Previously, critics say, the Service gave permits to unqualified companies in closed door deals. A new effort to make Ukraine self sufficient in gas is driven by the realization that, with next year’s expected completion of North Stream 2, Russia will have the power to cut off gas to Ukraine.