KIEV, Aug. 19 - Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Friday urged UkrNafta, Ukraine’s largest oil producer, to boost oil output and backed its plans for selling some of its shares through an IPO.

The developments reflect serious concerns at the government as UkrNafta has been persistently reducing its oil output over the past two years.

“We are not happy with any plans for reduced oil output,” Azarov said at a meeting with Peter Vanhecke, the CEO of UkrNafta, and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko. “We have to begin stabilization.”