Gas extraction from underground storage facilities in Ukraine stands at 40 mcm per day in Jan - former energy minister

MOSCOW. Jan 19 (Interfax) - Despite a decline in production, Ukraine has been extracting relatively small amounts of gas in January 2026, around 40 million cubic meters (mcm) per day, versus 58 mcm daily taken in January over the past three years.

"The reason is not just gas import but also its reduced consumption of heating and power plants caused by the destruction of generating equipment," Ukrainian media said, citing a statement by former Energy Minister Olga Buslavets on a social network.

According to the Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, net gas imports to Ukraine (including short-haul re-exports by non-residents of up to 3 mcm per day) have fluctuated between 21 mcm and 22 mcm in recent days. Imports come from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and small volumes from Moldova and Romania.

According to the European Aggregated Gas Storage Inventory (AGSI), the level of natural gas reserves in Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities stood at 11.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) (including 4.7 bcm of technological "buffer gas") as of the end of the week, up 30% or 2.7 bcm from last year.

At the same time, the level of underground gas storage facilities in Europe fell to 56.1 bcm, with a fill level of 52%, which is 22% below the average for the past five years and 20% or 14 bcm below last year's level.