Government continuing to work on energy independence of Ukraine, says Azarov

The government of Ukraine is continuing to work hard to strengthen the country's energy independence, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"We certainly have very expensive gas, and this is a heavy burden for industry and the housing and utility services. That is why all branches of government are focused on cutting the consumption of natural gas and increasing [the country's] own extraction," he said while opening a meeting of the government on Wednesday.

Azarov added that the government is also working on energy saving and replacing gas with other types of fuel at various municipal heat suppliers. According to the premier, Ukraine is launching work at new gas fields, and new drilling rigs have started working offshore on the Black Sea shelf.