On the gas market of Ukraine, thanks to the introduction of free prices and a small liberalization of the industry, a miracle happened - for the first time in three years, the extraction of own raw materials began to grow,.

Almost three years - since 2013 - gas production in the country has only fallen. But in 2016 it began to grow - by 1.5%, from 19 billion cubic meters. M to 20.5 billion cubic meters. M per year.

But only for the first quarter of this year, this figure was tightened by another 1.3%.

If everything goes at this pace, then by 2020 Ukraine will be able to extract annually from its own resources about 27 billion cubic meters. M of gas, which together with a decrease in its consumption of heat and electricity and households will allow the country to meet its internal needs by 90%, the head of the board of the country's largest gas producer - state Ukrgazvydobuvannya Oleg Prokhorenko.

According to Sergei Glazunov, director of the private company Smart Energy, these are the fruits of introducing market pricing in the wholesale and retail markets after the reform, based on the Law on the Natural Gas Market, adopted in 2015.

After that, the largest European gas trader Engie entered the domestic market. At the same time, until the end of last year, foreign companies in the domestic market did not work at all.

"In fact, you have created the market as such for just a few years," explains Willem Koppols, Head of Engie Representative Office in Ukraine. He approves of the initiative of the government, which last year ceased to set the price for extracted gas for industrial consumers. Before this, the National Commission for the Regulation of the Energy Market recorded its cost for them. For industrial consumers, the price was 4,500. UAH per thousand. Cube. And Ukrgazvydobuvannya could sell gas at 1,5 thousand. UAH, and only for the needs of the population.

For small consumers, the current liberalization has been painful. But, as Koppols is sure, gas should be sold at a market price.

In addition, as a result, in three years Ukraine will be able to completely free itself from the influence of Russian Gazprom and the importers of blue fuel.

Strict regulation of the market in the past has led to a lot of abuses, in particular, the creation of corruption schemes controlled by the now defunct Ukrainian MP Alexander Onishchenko. Onishchenko received gas at 1,5 thousand. UAH per thousand. Cube. M from the state - like teplokommunenergo, working for the population. And he sold it on the market several times more expensive - both for industrial consumers.

Now Ukrgazvydobuvannya itself can sell gas for industrial consumers. And already at the price that works for everyone - 6-7 thousand. UAH.

"A good example of the fact that the state does not need to be particularly stimulated," says Gennady Kobal, director of the consulting company ExPro Ukraine. "It is enough to introduce fair prices in the market and to deregulate as much as possible".

In addition, from January 1 next year, 5% of the rent will remain in local budgets. Similar, experts assure, will transform regional authorities into allies of earners and investors.

And then the domestic market will interest foreigners. Especially Ukraine has something to offer: here is the third largest gas market in Europe with a volume of 30 billion cubic meters. M of gas per year. And this, like large gas reserves, attracts external investors, says Kobal.

If the market deregulation process continues, and the size of the rent, as promised by Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman, will be reduced to a single rate of 12%, private companies will sharply increase their rates.

Vadim Pozharsky, Advisor to the Board of Directors of Burisma Group, a large private producer, is confident that by 2020 non-state firms will be able to increase production from the current 4.1 billion cubic meters. M to 6 billion cubic meters. M, and together with the growth of production in Ukrgazvydobuvannya - up to 21 billion cubic meters. M, which will allow Ukraine to almost completely meet its own needs for a blue energy carrier.

And then with Gazprom it will be possible to say goodbye forever.