Within 10 weeks, Naftogaz expects to sign a partnership with a ‘big’ international oil and gas firm to develop Ukrainian gas fields,

Within 10 weeks, Naftogaz expects to sign a partnership with a ‘big’ international oil and gas firm to develop Ukrainian gas fields, Andriy Kobolyev, CEO of the state energy company, tells Reuters in London. “I am negotiating with big international oil and gas companies potential partnership agreements to develop gas fields in Ukraine.” Without naming the companies, he added: “By the end of the year we will sign at least one partnership…and I believe if we have one partner this year, I would expect we could sign partnership agreements with at least two big names next year.” Reuters notes that today Ukraine produces about 20 billion cubic meters of gas a year, far less than the 70 bcm once produced by Soviet Ukraine.