Ukraine's Naftogaz considers buying gas-turbine compressors from Siemens

KYIV, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine's state oil and gas company Naftogaz is considering buying five gas-turbine compressor units from Germany's Siemens Energy, its energy ministry said on Monday, after the companies signed an agreement to expand cooperation on energy.

The talks took place on Sunday during a visit to Ukraine by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and a delegation of German companies.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed that day, Siemens and Naftogaz will cooperate on energy security and infrastructure protection, the modernization of underground gas storage facilities, and technical aspects of power generation.

German officials said executives from companies who travelled with Merz had signed 14 agreements with the Ukrainian government and businesses worth roughly €6.6 billion ($7.39 billion).

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said that Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy and gas infrastructure in an effort to leave the population without electricity and heating ahead of the winter cold.

Industry sources say Russia has been targeting Ukrainian gas fields, pipeline compressors, and gas treatment and processing equipment.

Neither Naftogaz nor the ministry disclosed the potential contract's value or delivery dates for the equipment.

The ministry also reported talks on using 12 Siemens Energy gas turbine units in Ukraine for distributed power generation, but gave no more details.

($1 = 0.8929 euros)

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Jan Harvey)