KIEV: Gas stocks in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities declined by 25% or 3.677 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 11.055 bcm since October 13, when the current heating season began, through January 14. Ukraine withdrew 52.84 million cubic meters (mcm) from underground storage on January 14 and a total of 930.98 mcm on January 1 through January 14 (66.5 mcm/day on average), Ukrtransgaz, which operates the country’s pipelines and storage facilities, said in a statement. Withdrawals amounted to 1.569 bcm in December (50.6 mcm/day on average) and 909.42 mcm in November (30.31 mcm/day).
Pumping of gas from underground storage facilities a year ago – on January 14, 2016 was 72.69 mcm with stocks of 12.468 bcm and two years ago – on January 14, 2015 – 61.17 mcm with stocks of 10.361 bcm. As of January 14, 2017, daily imports of gas were 46.285 mcm, of which 39.827 mcm from Slovakia, 2.531 mcm from Hungary and 3.927 mcm from Poland. Ukraine has not imported gas from Russia since November 26, 2015. Gas production in Ukraine on January 14 was 56.69 mcm, of which Ukrgazvydobuvannia produced 40.656 mcm, Ukrnafta 3.499 mcm and other companies 12.535 mcm. Transit via Ukraine’s gas transportation system was 3.896 bcm in the period January 1-14, corresponding to a monthly rate of about 8.6 bcm.
Naftogaz Ukrainy officials believe the gas stocks are sufficient to make it through the heating season and, if the winter is more severe than expected, Ukraine has the capacity to increase imports. Naftogaz calculates that stocks will end the heating season in the range 7-8 bcm, compared with the minimum allowable level of 5 bcm. Withdrawals in 2016 exceeded injections by 2 bcm: 8.391 bcm was withdrawn and 6.389 bcm was injected.
