The present pace of natural gas pumping to underground storage facilities indicates that 17 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas will be held in the facilities by the start of the heating season, Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"If with the present pace of 50 million cubic meters (mcm) is pumped every day, this is 2.5 bcm that we could pump. 2.5 bcm and 14.2 bcm of today's [stocks in underground storage facilities] are almost 17 bcm. Last year we had smaller stocks," he said.

Demchyshyn said that the rhythm of gas pumping during the heating season is a more urgent issue than stocks.

He said that with the largest level of gas consumption per day in Ukraine being 300 mcm, including 55 mcm of own produced gas, 60 mcm of reverse supplies, and 130-140 mcm of gas from underground storage facilities, means that 60-70 mcm more from Russia is required.

Demchyshyn said that supply from Russia will only be considered in an emergency situation.