KIEV, Sept. 8 - President Petro Poroshenko on Monday signed into law a bill that allows U.S. and European companies to modernize and to manage the country’s vast natural gas pipeline and gas storage infrastructure, according to Parliament’s website.

The bill, which was approved by Parliament on August 14, allows European and US companies to control 49% stake in a consortium that would operate the Ukrainian gas transportation system. The Ukrainian government will control 51% stake.