KIEV, March 18. /TASS/. Ukraine’s minister of energy and coal industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn says the country can provide itself with local gas for 50 years from now.

"Our [gas] reserves total 1 trillion cubic meters, production equals 20 bln [cubic meters], so our gas will suffice for at least 50 years," he said Friday.

"Instead, we buy at least 15 bln cubic meters in Europe and Russia. This makes up $3.5 bln, which we give to Europeans and Russians instead of giving those funds to our producers," he added.