Ukraine imports 125 mcm of gas a day, 114 mcm from Russia – Naftogaz head
Ukraine is currently importing 125 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas a day, Board Chairman of national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy Andriy Kobolev said at a meeting of anti-crisis energy staff on Thursday.
"Several days ago we had a radical increase in the pace of gas imports. Now the pace of imports of gas for Ukraine is 125 million cubic meters, including 114 million cubic meters from Russia and the rest of gas from Europe," he said.
He said that gas is imported from Europe through all possible routes, including Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Naftogaz Ukrainy imports gas only from Slovakia.
"Private companies started actively working on the Hungarian and Polish directions after the law on the gas market took effect on October 1. The volumes are small, but they are growing and this is optimistic that not only Naftogaz will import gas this year," Kobolev said.
He said that at present, Ukrainian underground storage facilities have 16 billion cubic meters of gas, and as of late October the stocks should exceed 17 billion cubic meters.
Gas consumption in Ukraine today is around 90 million cubic meters a day, and this is higher than in the middle of October 2014, which is linked to lower temperatures and the earlier start of the heating season.
