KYIV, June 25 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny is revising plans for drilling to increase natural gas production, chairman of the board Yuriy Vitrenko has said.

"First of all, we will increase production, and in the near future. For this, we are now revising our plans for drilling and carrying out appropriate work on the existing well stock," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, June 23 – Corruption in Ukraine impedes reform, European Business Association President Tomas Fiala said.

"Deep-rooted corruption and personal interests are paralyzing the implementation of your initiatives and preventing businesses from working, investing and creating jobs," he said at a plenary meeting of the council of domestic and foreign investors under the chairmanship of the Ukrainian president in Kiev on Thursday.

KIEV, June 23 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny has selected Kiev-based Delta Bank to sell government domestic loan bonds worth UAH 3.5 billion on repo terms with a 13.5% interest rate, according to a report in the tender information system on the Web site of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

KIEV, June 23 - Europe's largest digital signage display of 103.36 square meters was installed over the northern terrace of the Olympiysky national sports complex in Kiev on June 21, Olympiysky national sports complex reported.

KIEV, June 24 – Ukrainian state-run oil and gas extracting companies have asked the Ukrainian parliament, government and some ministries to set a zero royalty for gas extracted from depleted fields and fields where gas is extracted for the needs of households.

KIEV, June 24 – The National Bank of Ukraine is planning to retain the discount and refinancing rates at the present level in the near term, according to NBU Governor Serhiy Arbuzov.

KIEV, June 26 - Ukraine has agreed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of risk and safety (stress tests) of its nuclear power plants based on criteria developed by the European Union.

KIEV, June 24 - Metinvest-Eurasia, a wholesale and retail channel of Metinvest Group in Russia, has commissioned new metal service centers in Moscow, Belgorod, Taganrog, Voronezh, Volgograd, Novorossiysk and Mineralnye Vody over the past six months, bringing their number to 16.

KIEV, June 24 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny plans to boost oil production at the Alam El Shawish East section in Egypt under a concession agreement from 300 barrels to 3,000 barrels (about 430 tons) per 24 hours by 2011, Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko said.

KIEV, June 24 – Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko has signed an agreement on free trade with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which unites Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.