SIMFEROPOL, July 20 - The Crimean Chornomornaftogaz State Gas Company (now called Chernomorneftegaz in annexed Crimea), which produces gas and oil off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea and around the peninsula, is planning to double the capacity of the sole underground gas storage facility (UGS) on the peninsula, the Hlibovske UGS, company CEO Sergey Beym said.

"We have already started and draft development is going at full speed. I think that we will receive a positive conclusion for the draft in February or March of next year. Until then we will acquire special machinery which will allow us to carry out the work with our own resources," Beym said at a press conference in Simferopol on Monday.