US energy giant Chevron is interested in taking a stake in Ukraine's natural gas pipeline network, which the country is opening to Western investors.
Last week Ukraine approved a law allowing EU and US investors to buy up to 49 per cent of Naftogaz, which operates the gas pipeline network for both domestic consumption and transit of Russian gas to Europe.
Russian news agency ITAR-TASS cited three sources on Monday saying three companies have expressed interest in the deal, with two confirming Chevron is among them.
Chevron declined to comment on what it called media speculation regarding its business activities, ITAR-TASS cited it as saying.
The US company entered Ukraine last year when it signed a shale gas production sharing agreement.
Control of the country's pipeline network is a sensitive issue, and Ukraine has previously rebuffed attempts by Russian gas giant Gazprom to buy a stake in Naftogaz.
Russia has turned off gas supplies to Ukraine during disputes over debt and prices in the past, causing shortages in Europe as well.
Europe gets about 30 per cent of its gas from Russia, with half of that transiting through Ukraine.
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