Valentyn Loktyev, who has over 20 years of experience in hydrocarbon exploration and production in Ukraine and abroad, has been appointed Exploration Director of the Naftogaz Exploration and Production Division.

“Next year, with all the formal procedures being performed quickly, we plan to start exploration of the Black Sea shelf, the Yuzivska area, as well as the new large areas as part of the Production Sharing Agreements. To ensure quick and competent start of these strategic projects, we are strengthening our internal team with subject matter experts with international experience. Valentyn has worked with green fields, tight reservoirs, large oil and gas fields in Ukraine, the USA and Oman. This is the experience and expertise that Naftogaz needs to implement its plans and objectives to build up Ukrainian gas reserves,” said Oleksandr Romanyuk, Director of the Naftogaz Exploration and Production Division.

Valentyn Loktyev began his career in 2000 in a division of Naftogaz Group - the research institute UkrNDIGas (Kharkiv). After obtaining a PhD in Oil and Gas Geology, he worked at the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Subsequently, he moved to the Ukrainian representative office of one of the largest international oilfield service companies - Shell. Then he worked for the Omani national production company - Petroleum Development Oman - and with tight reservoirs in Texas (USA) as part of the Shell Team.

“I am glad to rejoin the Naftogaz Team, where I started my professional career. I am impressed by the goals that the company sets itself today, because this is not merely a professional challenge, it is also an opportunity to contribute to the development of the country. For a long time Ukraine did not use its own resource potential to the proper extent. I believe that now there are all the prerequisites to fundamentally change the situation,” said Valentyn Loktyev.