KIEV, Feb. 25 ??“ Ukraine will seek to boost domestic natural gas output by 50% in an attempt to offset likely gas import disruptions during the next winter season, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said Saturday.

Ukraine, which produces 20 bln cubic meters/year of gas, has been seeking to increase the output to 24 bln within several years. But the latest comment shows the plans may have been upgraded to an extremely ambitious 30 bln cubic meters/year.