Gas consumption in Ukraine up 30% to 130 mcm per day

MOSCOW. Feb 13 (Interfax) - Gas consumption in Ukraine in the 2025-2026 winter season is 30% higher than in the previous season, reaching an average daily figure of 130 million cubic meters (mcm), Ukrainian media quoted First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denis Shmygal as saying.

"Due to weather conditions, gas consumption this year is higher than last year, approximately by 30% both in January and February. Today is the first day when consumption equals the amount on the same day last year. The winter was quite warm last year, and we consumed around 100 mcm per day, while this year it's 130 mcm on average. But we also have 2 billion cubic meters [bcm] more in storage, which gives us confidence that we are smoothly getting through this fall-winter season even though the consumption is so high," media outlets quoted Shmygal as saying at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's energy committee on Thursday.

Gas deficit risks are moderate, and, "to be on the safe side", Naftogaz started to import some gas directly into the pipeline this year, he said.

Ukraine's coal reserves this year are the largest in history, but the use of coal for thermal generation is not high, he said.

"There will be no more generation this month," Shmygal said.

Shmygal also said at the meeting that five units and one assembly at Ukraine's thermal power plants are currently operational, providing 854 MW capacity. Nuclear power plants are providing 7.5 MW, and Ukraine is importing a further 2 GW or so. On sunny days, like yesterday and the day before yesterday, solar power plants already supplied 1.6 GW-1.7 GW of electricity to the to the grid. The current power deficit in Ukraine is estimated at 4.3 GW-4.5 GW. The forecast maximum consumption is 16.4 GW.