Ukrainian ministry thinks gas consumption could plummet 40% this winter - MP

MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Energy Ministry forecasts gas consumption will plummet 39.7% or 7.7 billion cubic meters in the coming winter heating season compared with last, to 11.7 bcm, Holos faction MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Telegram.

He said demand for gas would be 3-4.9 bcm, in various scenarios.

The parliament will again be asked to on using a Canadian loan of C$450 million or US$350 million to buy gas. It did not include allocating UAH 12.7 billion or $350 million from a Canadian government credit to Naftogaz, the national oil and gas company, in final amendments to the 2022 state budget on August 15.

The Canadian Department of Finance said on August 17 that the financing was intended for Ukraine to buy fuel for the heating season. The Ukrainian Finance Ministry said on Telegram on August 18 that the state budget had received a loan on preferential terms from Canada.