Ukraine needs to import 4.5 bcm-4.6 bcm of gas by Nov 1 - Naftogaz

MOSCOW. March 27 (Interfax) - Ukraine will have to import 4.5 billion-4.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas before the start of the next heating season, i.e. before November 1, 2025, Ukrainian media cited Naftogaz Group board member and commercial director Dmitry Abramovich as saying at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's committee on energy, housing and utilities on Wednesday.

"Naftogaz is concluding contracts for April, May and the following months. We are not stopping as we understand that, if we want to have the amounts comparable to last year's, we need to have 4.5 bcm-4.6 bcm of gas by November 1, 2025," Abramovich said.

Naftogaz imported nearly 800 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas in February-March 2025, he said.

According to Naftogaz data, Ukrainian consumers used 14.86 bcm of gas during the heating season from November 2024 to March 2025, which is above the Energy Ministry's consumption target of 14.73 bcm. At the same time, gas consumption in Ukraine was 5%, or by 680 mcm, higher than in the same period of 2023-2024.

During the last heating season, Ukraine also lost 700 mcm of domestic gas production due to the crisis, Abramovich said.

Upon conclusion of the current heating season, gas reserves held in Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities are expected to be 500 mcm lower than the planned figure, he said.

At the same time, gas consumption in Ukraine will stand at 20.6 bcm-20.8 bcm in 2025, which is comparable to last year's amounts.

It was reported, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal, that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Wednesday approved a loan of up to 270 million euros for Naftogaz to purchase natural gas for the next two heating seasons. The Norwegian government will also provide 140 million euros in grants via the EBRD.

According to Shmygal, this funding will help Ukraine accumulate gas reserves in its underground gas storage facilities for the next heating season.