Ukraine plans to extract gas from the Black Sea off the northwest coast

Ukraine plans to extract gas from the Black Sea off the northwest coast

Ukraine is preparing to explore gas deposits off its coast in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, in the so-called Dolphin area, and it is estimated that the annual gas production from this location could be 2 to 5 billion cubic meters. The exploration of the bearings is to be carried out by Naftogaz. This is reported by the projects.censor.net portal, which states that Ukraine does not have sufficient gas production to meet its needs. In 2019, the country consumed about 30 billion cubic meters of gas, while having to import 14.3 billion cubic meters.

The Ukrainian effort has a long history

According to mining companies, the main fields of the Dnieper-Donetsk basin are almost depleted, so it is necessary to look for gas in new places. A survey of oil and gas deposits in the Black Sea is close to implementation. By a resolution at the end of November, the Ukrainian government made it possible to explore the Black Sea shelf with the possibility of extracting oil and natural gas in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone. The State Geological Survey is expected to issue appropriate special permits to Naftogaz based on a government decision. Ukraine's efforts to start producing gas from the Black Sea shelf have a long history, notes the projects.censor.net portal. For example, in 2007 the government signed an agreement with Vanco International on mining in the Prikerchen region off the southeast coast of Crimea. According to the Unconventional Gas portal, the potential production from this area could be 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The company later transferred the mining rights to its daughter Vanco Prikerčenska, which is jointly owned by DTEK Rinata Achmetova and Shadowlight Investments Limited. In 2008, the government canceled the agreement. However, after the Russian occupation of Crimea, Ukraine lost access to the area.