You're reading: Energy minister: Ukraine to announce tender to buy two more drilling rigs in August

Ukraine plans to announce a tender for the purchase of another two modern drilling rigs for work on the Ukrainian shelf in late August this year, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky told journalists in Kyiv on June 5. 

“Most likely, we will manage to do this at the end of August,” he said.

According to him, it is unreasonable to announce a tender earlier due to the holiday season.

The minister explained that at present all of the possible options and specifications of drilling rigs are being studied.

“We are studying all possible options to make maximum use of the equipment we buy,” he added.

As reported, Chornomornaftogaz, a subsidiary of Naftogaz Ukrainy, currently operates two modern self-elevating floating drilling rigs, namely the Petro Hodovanets and the Nezalezhnist. 

Both devices were purchased at a price of about $400 million each. According to Naftogaz Deputy Head Valeriy Yasiuk, the Petro Hodovanets drilling rig will be paid off in 2014.