KIEV: Ukraine plans to reduce imports of natural gas in 2016 by 20-30% compared to 2015, down to 11-13 billion cubic meters from 16.4 bcm and procure mostly by a reverse scheme from the EU, Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn has told the reporters after a Wednesday government meeting.
“We import 11-13 billion cubic meters. There are different scenarios. And the reverse [flow] capacities are sufficient enough to cover this volume,” the minister said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine doubled its gas imports from Europe (to 10.3 bcm) compared to 2014. At the same time, Ukraine reduced gas imports from the Russian Federation to 6.1 bcm from 14.5 bcm a year, marking a historical minimum.
Until 2014, Ukraine used to cover its needs for imported gas almost exclusively with supplies from Russia under a contract with Gazprom. In 2013, Ukraine has purchased from Gazprom about 26 bcm of gas, and 33 bcm in 2012. Ukraine’s total gas imports in 2015 (from the EU and the Russian Federation) stood at 16.4 bcm, which is 16% less than in 2014 (19.6 bcm).
Late November, 2015, Ukraine refused to purchase Russian gas. According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the reason for such move was that the price of the Russian gas is higher than that of the gas coming from Europe. Before the end of 2015, Gazprom has set the price of gas for Ukraine’s Naftogaz at USD227 per 1,000 cubic meters.
In 2016, Ukraine considers buying Russian gas, if necessary, at a price of about USD207-USD208 per 1,000 cubic meters. The price of gas from Europe in 2016 is expected to reach USD175-USD 180.
