KIEV, Sept. 19 - The Energy and Fuel Ministry wants to merge assets of UkrgazVydobuvannia (UGV) and ChornomorNaftoGaz, Ukraine’s state-owned No. 1 and No. 3 biggest producers of natural gas, the ministry reported Friday.

ChornomornaftoGaz has been mostly extracting gas from offshore deposits on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, while UGV has been extracting gas throughout most Ukrainian land territory.