KIEV: Ukraine has collected 15.0 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in underground storage as of Sept. 14, part of its plan to store 18-19 bcm for winter by mid-October, gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday. Ukraine is pumping about 49 million cubic metres of gas into reserves every day, it said in a statement.
Ukraine uses gas from underground storage to safeguard supply in winter as well as to ensure there are no disruptions to the transit of Russian across the country to Europe. The European Union receives about 40 percent of its Russian gas imports via Ukraine.
Kiev has said it needs at least $1 billion to buy enough gas for the winter season. Last week, the chief executive of Russia’s Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said the EU might provide Kiev with $500 million for gas purchases of about 2 billion cubic metres (bcm).
Ukraine hopes to receive the remaining $500 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and from the International Finance Corporation.
According to analysts’ calculations, a $1 billion loan would allow Ukraine to buy around 4 bcm of gas. Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz said last week Ukraine hopes to sign a new gas agreement with Gazprom later this month.
Moscow and Kiev agreed last year on a “winter package” for supplies, with a price discount of $100 per thousand cubic metres and advance payments. That agreement expired on July 1 and has yet to be replaced.
