KYIV, March 16 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny and Naphtha Israel Petroleum will join forces in exploring for oil and gas in the Black Sea, Otto Waterlander, Chief Operating Officer of the Naftogaz Group, said Tuesday.

Naftogaz and Naphtha signed a memorandum of understanding a month after the Ukrainian company had concluded a similar deal with Romania’s OMV Petrom, underscoring Naftogaz’s offshore drilling plans.