Ukraine Starts Pumping Gas Out of Underground Storage

Ukraine has started since October 30 pumping gas out of its underground storage facilities (USF).

Having accumulated the minimum volume of gas needed for the heating season and ensuring uninterrupted transit of Russian gas to the EU, Ukraine has started since October 30 pumping gas out of its underground storage facilities (USF), according to PJSC Ukrtransgaz, the operator of Ukraine's gas transportation system.

As of October 29, Ukraine had 17.064 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas accumulated in its USF, with 5.47 million cubic meters (mcm) being pumped out next day, and only 0.34 mcm pumped into its USF. As of October 31, pumping of gas into storage facilities was suspended, with 4.78 mcm being pumped out of its USF.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated the country would need to additionally import about 5 bcm of gas for the heating season.

Earlier, Naftogaz chief Andriy Kobolev said Ukraine finished October 31 purchases of 2 bcm of natural gas from Russia's Gazprom at a price of $227 per 1,000 cubic meters. Continuation of gas purchases from Russia would depend on the price, he added.