KYIV, March 15 - The amendments to the procedure for issuing special permits for subsoil use approved by the government on March 14 contradict the government's plans to increase gas production in Ukraine, according to the Association of Gas Producers of Ukraine.

"The wording of changes proposed by Ministry of Ecology is absolutely not consistent with the results that have been achieved following a number of conciliation meetings with the participation of subsoil users of different sectors of the economy," the association notes.