KIEV, Sept. 12 - Ukraine will become the largest producer of natural gas from offshore Black Sea deposits by 2015, outpacing other countries in the region, a senior official at state-owned energy producer said Wednesday.

Ukraine is expected to produce 3.2 million metric tons of fuel equivalent annually, including 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas, by 2015, Oleh Hryn, acting chairman of the board of directors at ChornomorNaftogaz, said.