KYIV, Feb 10 - The natural gas deficit in Ukraine creates preconditions for the development of bioenergy, which can replace it with biomass in heat production, believes chairman of the board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine Heorhiy Heletukha.

"There is already a shortage of gas. However, there is a grain of optimism here - the situation with natural gas can contribute to the development of bioenergy, they can turn their face to us. We, bioenergy, can cheaply replace natural gas in heat supply, and use the gas that is released for electricity," Heletukha said in a blitz interview with the online portal Energy Reform.