KIEV, Dec. 26 - Ukraine's national oil and gas stock company Naftogaz Ukrayiny has signed an agreement with China Development Bank Corporation for $3.656 billion under state guarantee for projects involving the replacement of gas with coal, Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko's press service announced Tuesday evening.

The program envisions four investment programs with various starting and ending points, which will allow Ukraine to substantially lower its import-dependence and increase the state's energy security, and to significantly grow gross volumes of internal production and consumption with the introduction of modern technology and the building of corresponding infrastructure, the press service said.