KIEV, Sept. 20 - Ukraine's government moved closer to a new shale gas deal for the country when a regional council approved its draft for a production sharing agreement with U.S. energy company Chevron on Friday.

Deputies in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region had sent the draft back to the government a month ago, pressing for guarantees that the environment would be adequately protected during exploration and for a commitment to allocate 10 percent of any gas produced for local consumption.

Deputies voted 62 to one in favor of an amended government draft with 11 abstentions, Interfax reported Friday.