Ukraine`s government issued on Wednesday a second resolution to unilaterally withdraw from a production sharing agreement with a U.S. oil company to develop the Black Sea shelf, according to RIA Novosti.
Ukrainian First Deputy Justice Minister Yevheniy Korneichuk told journalists that Ukraine had first revoked the oil and gas license of U.S. company Vanco International, a subsidiary of the Vanco Energy Company, in May but the decision was later suspended by Ukraine`s president.
Vanco International signed a 30-year production sharing agreement with former premier Viktor Yanukovych`s government in October 2007, covering the Prykerchenska area just south of the Crimean Peninsula.
Under the deal, the company received a 65% stake and Ukraine 35% at the prospecting and development stage. The sides were to go 50-50 with the launch of commercial production.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Tymoshenko earlier called for an international investigation into the license, describing the Vanco deal as "the plundering of Ukraine`s mineral reserves" and accused President Viktor Yushchenko of lobbying for the U.S. firm.
