REUTERS
The Russian Federation and its largest gas producer Gazprom are sponsoring groups of influence in Ukraine effectively blocking the efforts to boost own gas extraction, head of the board of the national oil and gas holding company Naftogaz of Ukraine, Andriy Kobolyev said on air of one of the Ukrainian TV channels.
"We need to reduce the influence of pro-Russian groups. It's no secret that Gazprom and Russia are spending money, sponsoring certain forces in Ukraine that block [exploration of] new deposits, gas extraction, and lying to local residents about the environmental consequences," Kobolyev said.
The Naftogaz CEO also cited the example of Kharkiv region, where recently "some people with negative attitude, the ones who are not local residents, tried to block talks on the development of new [extraction] sites".
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As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine in 2017 compared with 2016 increased own production of natural gas by 3.1% - up to 20.8 billion cubic meters. The state-owned Ukrgazvydobuvannia, which is part of the Naftogaz holding, producing gas in Kharkiv and Poltava regions, increased output by 4.8% to 15.3 bcm last year. At present, the company is implementing the 20/20 Program, which envisages the annual output boost up to 20 bcm by 2020. The implementation of this program requires investment estimated at UAH 110 billion.