70% more natural gas transits Ukraine in Jan-Feb
KYIV. March 5 (Interfax) - A total of 19.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas transited Ukrainian territory en route to Europe and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States in January-February, 70% or 8.1 bcm more than in the same period in 2009, the Fuel and Energy Ministry told Interfax.
February gas transit totalled 9 bcm.
Gas in underground storage facilities decreased by 4.1 bcm in February to 15 bcm on March 1, a ministry spokesman said.
A total of 95.82 bcm of natural gas passed through Ukraine to Europe and the CIS in all of 2009, which was 19.9% or 23.78 bcm less than the previous year.
Deputy CEO at the national stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy Vadim Chuprun forecast last December that 116 bcm of gas would transit Ukraine in 2010.
Naftogaz Ukrainy subsidiary Ukrtransgaz operates the country's system of trunk pipelines and underground storage facilities. That system has throughput capacity of 288 bcm at intake and 178.5 bcm at output, including 142.5 bcm to European countries.