KIEV, March 19 – Some 15 companies have applied to the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry to participate in a tender to sign a production sharing agreement for the joint development of Oleska and Yuzovska areas, minister Mykola Zlochevsky said at a press conference in Kiev on Monday.

"Today these are about 15 companies. I think that won't be the final number, as applications are still being accepted," he said.

Zlochevsky said that five of the 15 companies have acquired tender documents, including geological data.