Ukraine ready to provide foreign companies up to 15 bcm of available underground gas storage
KYIV. May 25. (Interfax) - Ukraine is prepared to provide up to 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) of its available underground gas storage facilities for foreign companies to store their own gas, Ukrtransgaz's senior engineer Ihor Lokhman told journalists in Kyiv on Friday.
Since the launch of the pumping season starting in April of this year, Ukraine has replenished its underground facilities with 1.9 bcm of natural gas. At present, roughly 9 bcm of gas are located in its storage facilities, he said.
Lokhman confirmed previously announced plans to pump around 10-11 bcm of gas into underground storage facilities in preparation for the 2012-2013 heating season.
"Interested European gas traders and companies can use our available facilities," he said.
Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy has announced its readiness to consider other companies' proposals on storing their resources in Ukraine's underground facilities.
Ukrtransgaz plans to pump roughly 10-11 bcm of gas into its underground storage facilities by the 2012-2013 heating season (by the middle of this October), and Chernomornaftogaz plans to pump at least 0.3 bcm.
In April, Ukraine finished up the season of removing natural gas from its own underground storage facilities and began the pumping season. Last year, in preparation for the 2011-2012 heating season, Ukrtransgaz pumped 10.6 bcm of gas into its storage facilities and started the heating season with 20.6 bcm of reserves.
Ukraine possesses 13 underground gas storage facilities with a total active capacity of 31 bcm. Ukrtransgaz operates 12 storage facilities and a system of trunk gas pipelines, while Chernomornaftogaz (100% of whose shares belong to Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy) operates the 13th storage facility.
Ukrtransgaz underground gas storage facility operations, bcm:
| Year | Pumping | Removal |
| 2008 | 15,7 | 13,9 |
| 2009 | 10,1 | 14,9 |
| 2010 | 13,1 | 14,3 |
| 2011 | 10,6 | 13,9 |