Ukraine almost doubles gas pumping from underground inventories due to cold snap
Frosts in the middle of January 2018 forced Ukraine almost double pumping of natural gas from its underground gas storage facilities, according to data from public joint-stock company Ukrtransgaz.
According to Interfax-Ukraine's calculations, if on January 1 through January 9 average gas pumping was 40.8 million cubic meters (mcm), on January 10 through January 13 it grew to 74.3 mcm with stable imports at the level of 25.6 mcm a day this month.
In December 2017, average daily gas pumping from underground gas storage facilities was 46 mcm with 30.8 mcm a day of imported gas.
Since the start of the heating season (October 24, 2017) as of January 13, 2018 Ukraine cut natural gas stocks by 17.4% or 2.945 billion cubic meters (bcm), to 14.029 bcm.
On January 13 one year ago, 55.09 mcm was withdrawn from underground gas storage facilities (leaving 11.108 bcm in storage), two years ago some 93.52 mcm (12.54 bcm), and three years ago some 64.53 mcm (10.423 bcm).
Thus, gas stocks in Ukrainian underground storage facilities on January 13, 2018 were 26.3%, 11.9% and 34.6% more than on January 13, 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively.
As reported, in 2017, total gas pumping into the storage facilities exceeded its pumping from the facilities by 2.733 bcm, while in 2016, pumping from the facilities exceeded pumping to the facilities by 2.002 bcm. Some 6.415 bcm was pumped from the facilities and 9.148 bcm was pumped into them in 2017.