KIEV, Oct. 25 - The Ukrainian government plans by the end of the year to sign a production sharing agreement (PSA) with Royal Dutch Shell that will open way for a major shale gas extraction project.

Shell in May won a tender for exploration and development of Yuzivska, one of the biggest deposits of shale gas in Ukraine, and is currently in talks with the government over the PSA.

“We expect to sign the agreement by the end of the year,” Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko said Thursday.`