Ukraine triples fuel imports from EU - Economy Ministry

KYIV. May 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine has managed to significantly increase fuel imports from European Union countries with assistance from its Western partners and expects to receive 350,000 tonnes of fuel via absolutely new logistics routes in May, the Ukrainian Economy Ministry said in a statement on its website.

"Measures implemented in March and April 2022 have made it possible to increase the daily volume of imports from the EU to 12,000 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes," the ministry said.

Among the measures that have facilitated this growth, the ministry mentioned the decisions to cancel entry permits for tank trucks delivering fuel to Ukraine, receive fuel at Danube ports, adjust a price regulation mechanism for fuel, and authorize the customs and border authorities to prioritize the clearance of fuel transported across the border.

"Owing to this, the amount of fuel supplied to Ukraine by rail has increased five-fold. Compared to 35,000 tonnes imported in March, we expect 180,000 tonnes in May. The amount [of fuel] imported by trucks has grown 15-fold to 85,000 tonnes from 5,000 tonnes. River transport is currently transporting five times as much fuel as it did in March, up to 22,000 tonnes compared to 4,000 tonnes," the report quoted First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as saying.

Ukraine has reached agreement with Hungary on starting reverse pipeline fuel deliveries, securing the import of 35,000 tonnes of oil products a month, and this figure could potentially be increased to 50,000 tonnes, the ministry said.

Apart from that, Ukraine has set up separate green channels at its customs checkpoints for tank trucks coming from Poland, which might help increase the number of such vehicles entering the country to 200 from 110 a day.

"The entire amount of imports could be allocated for domestic consumption now. It takes a longer time to accumulate reserves. For lines and shortages at gas stations to vanish, they should have fuel reserves at least for 15 days," the ministry said.

"According to an updated forecast, 300,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and 120,000 tonnes of gasoline are to be consumed in May. Ukrainian chains have already concluded contracts for this amount of imports," it said.