KIEV, Aug. 29 - The implementation of the first five projects replacing natural gas with domestically produced coal will enable Ukraine to cut its gas imports by over 3 billion cubic meters and save around $1.2 billion annually, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told the government on Wednesday.

The government has signed a protocol on cooperation with China Development Bank on opening a special credit line and raising a total of more than $3.5 billion in loans for implementing such coal projects.