OREANDA-NEWS.March 19, 2012. The Government is actively working on replacing very expensive Russian gas to alternatives sources. Though all over the volume of gas received from Russia, to find alternative is very hard, but part of it we can replace by cheaper energy resources. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this on air of the program "Exam for Power" on the First National TV Channel.

According to him Ukraine can buy cheaper gas in other countries: "There is gas and there is gas which costs much cheaper than we are now forced to buy in Russia".

Mykola Azarov informed that now the country is engaged in technical support delivery of gas from other countries. In his view, the advantage of Ukraine is the existence of its own underground storage facilities. "So we can offer our partners, with which we will potentially negotiate, very interesting scheme of purchase of gas. For example, in summer when it costs on the spot market relatively cheap. And realize the gas when it will be quite expensive. This is not a decision that we want to get it is better to negotiate with Russia for the normal price. This is a forced decision, we have no choice if our Russian partners show such obstinacy or a misunderstanding of the situation", - Mykola Azarov said.

The second factor which was named by the PM concerning the development of its own deposits of shale gas. He said that soon will be announced a tender for development of Ukrainian deposits of shale gas. Global companies have already expressed a desire to participate in the competition. "I am deeply convinced that in the foreseeable time we will develop its own shale gas", - said Mykola Azarov and added that the country is engaged in development of our own deposits on own force, for example, two large drilling platforms will soon begin the work.

"This range of activities carried out in order to have an alternative, if we are set for this dilemma. I emphasize again - this is not our choice. We would be much easier to negotiate, and "Gazprom" would have a stable buyer of gas for years to come. But if this position is occupied, then, of course, we must proceed from the fact that we should make it possible to have cheaper gas and, secondly, to have alternative sources of supply of gas, "- said the Prime Minister, noting that along with this the country is engaged in energy efficiency and creating other alternative energy sources.