KYIV. July 16 (Interfax) - China Development Bank could open a special credit facility of $3.656 billion to fund projects in Ukraine involving Chinese technology to convert power plants from gas to coal.

The bank signed a protocol on cooperation on the program with the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Ministry, the ministry's press office said.

The program includes several projects to convert Ukrainian heat generating plants to the use of coal-water technologies and build plants to degasify lignite and bituminous coal seams.

Ukrainian First Deputy Energy and Coal Minister Ihor Popovych and Lu Bo, a representative of the Chinese bank, signed the protocol.

Chin