Ukrainian gas storage up 1.6 bcm to 9 bcm since injection season began

MOSCOW. June 18 (Interfax) - Gas stocks in Ukraine's underground storage facilities grew 1.6 billion cubic meters between April 1 and June 17 to just over 9 billion cubic meters, Ukrainian media reported, quoting a statement by the Naftogaz Group.

This is 0.39 bcm more than in the same period of last year.

"This is in line with our plan to store gas for the next heating season. All our enterprises are operating as normal," Naftogaz CEO Alexei Chernyshov was quoted as saying.

Ukrtransgaz, which operates the storage facilities, began the injection season on April 1.

Ukraine plans to store at least 13 bcm of gas for the 2024-2025 heating season.

It entered November 2023 with 16 bcm, of which 8.5 bcm was withdrawn, with Ukraine using 6.7 bcm of it. The withdrawal season lasted 145 days.

Ukrtransgaz, which is wholly owned by Naftogaz of Ukraine, operates ten underground storages with overall capacity of about 30 bcm.