Mykola Tomenko: Ukraine follows an Inevitable Approach: the Authorities change unlike the Owners of the Wells.
Opening the parliamentary hearings "On Hydrocarbon Production in Ukraine, and Monopoly on this Activity", Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, called for stabilization and increase of petroleum and gas production rates to meet the state need in energy products. It should lower the dependence of Ukraine on import deliveries, arrange conditions of energy preparedness and independence of our state, and strengthen the economy.
M. Tomenko believes that this pressing issue can be resolved by means of increasing the volume and effectiveness of geological production planning and works, opening new oil fields and new gasiferous horizons in existing fields.
According to him, the present state of raw materials source in oil and gas industry of Ukraine is characterized by several peculiarities to be considered in the course of sectorial regulation and management.
The Deputy Chairman meant the regulation of the sector for the last couple of years, when the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted a great many Laws on the oil and gas industry.
Still, M. Tomenko drew attention to the lack of regulation of the petroleum industry, especially the development of tax and land legislation, and budget planning.
The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada hopes that the proposals of the Government will be discussed by the experts, scientists and deputies. He mentioned several significant and high-profile issues, in particular, the governmental proposals to delegate the right on land allotment from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
In the end of his opening address, Mykola Tomenko named the state monopoly in this sphere a serious matter of concern. He announced that his visits to the regions where wells are located and petroleum is produced confirm the fantastic stability in the sector: the authorities change unlike the owners of the wells. Thus, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the only conclusion can be made: either they are efficient, or entitled to the life tenancy of the wells.
Summing up, Mykola Tomenko called on the participants to hold an effective discussion.