KIEV, June 22 - Ukraine will tap shale gas and methane deposits to increase by 50% its output of natural gas within the next 10 years, Andriy Kliuyev, the first deputy prime minister, said Tuesday.

The plan calls for increasing gas output to between 30 billion cubic meters and 32 billion cubic meters annually, up from 20 billion cubic meters produced in 2009.

Ukraine seeks to reduce dependence on Russia after Moscow has agreed in April to provide a 30% discount on gas prices for 10 years in exchange for major political concessions from Kiev.