UkrGazVydobuvannya, the state gas company, won five of five oil and gas exploration and production permits put up for auction

UkrGazVydobuvannya, the state gas company, won five of five oil and gas exploration and production permits put up for auction Tuesday by ProZorro. In each case, UGV won with bids marginally above the starting prices. Critics say starting prices were set too low for commercial companies. UGV produces about three quarters of the gas produced in Ukraine. Although the prospect of a Russian gas cut off has loomed over Ukraine for at least 15 years, production by the Naftogaz unit has been stagnant.