The Association of Gas producers of Ukraine (AGPU) is expressing its serious concerns about the situation, which occured around Ukrgasvydobuvannya. Seizure of technical documentation executed by the representatives of Ukraine's Security Agency and General Prosecutor's office may significantly slow down the operation of the company, which will have negative impacts on the dynamics of domestic production of natural gas.

We are stressing out that such actions hurt not only the operations of the commercial enterprise, but also undermine the timely realization of the Government's plans of establishing Ukraine as an energy self-sufficient country as early as in 2020. Moreover, such constant "attention" form the law enforcement authorities hurts the overall industry's image, which repels potential partners, domestic and foreign investors, at the time when the Ukrainian economy desperately needs international capital and advanced technologies, at the time when the country's management is constantly calling the foreign companies to invest in Ukraine.

Gas production intensification is an integral technology nowadays in the whole advanced world. All the neighboring countries, such as Belarus and Romania, are widely using this technology measure in their day-to-day operations. This has become a worldwide practice, which we now are only starting to use in Ukraine in sufficient volumes. The technology is aimed at speeding up hydrocarbons extraction, the dynamics of production of which is unsatisfactory low and is only 2%, compared to the 6% worldwide average.

Holding transparent state-run tenders and pooling large orders is the basic precondition for occurence of modern services on the market, provided by the experienced reputable foreign players.Their come to Ukraine will facilitate expansion of supply and increase of competion on the national market of services for all the upstream industry players.

We are stressing out that without using advanced technologies in upstream, out national gas production industry does not have a future, and all the strategic plans of the Government to increase domestic production will remain on the paper only.

All of the above considered, we are calling all the relevant state authorities to promptly influence the settlement of the situation, which has occured around Ukrgasvydobuvannya. Any action, which complicates the natural gas production in Ukraine further, is to the benefit only to the agressor country – Russia, which has used gas importance of Ukraine as a leverage for many years.