Kiev hopes Western partners won't stop storing gas at Ukrainian USFs

MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax) - Damage sustained by infrastructure of one of Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities (USFs) is unlikely to affect foreign traders' plans to store their natural gas in Ukraine, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.

"There is no panic among foreign companies," Ukrainian media quoted Galushchenko as saying at a press briefing after a meeting with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ebba Busch.

As reported, ground infrastructure of one of Ukraine's USFs was damaged on March 24. It will have to be repaired. However, according to Naftogaz of Ukraine CEO Alexei Chernyshov, the damage is not critical to the facility's operations and does not affect the gas supply to Ukrainian consumers. Furthermore, all requirements of customers of the gas storage and capacity booking services continue to be met in full.

Foreign traders and energy companies transported 2.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas for storage at Ukrainian USFs in 2023. Naftogaz plans to bring this amount to 4 bcm in 2024.