Gazprom: Load on European UGS facilities will be higher than in previous years because of changes in logistics, sources

MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Europe's underground gas storage (UGS) contain 69.7 billion cubic meters of gas, Gazprom said, citing Gas Infrastructure Europe data as on November 13; however, the Russian company believes that, "even maximum reserves in the UGS facilities of large European countries do not guarantee reliably passing the upcoming autumn and winter seasons."

"Meantime, the load on Europe's UGS facilities will be higher than in previous years because of changed logistics and sources for supplying gas to the European market. It should be noted that some countries have already begun withdrawing gas reserves from storage facilities," Gazprom emphasized.

Gazprom notes that the season for withdrawing gas from Ukrainian UGS facilities began on November 7, with the volume of gas in the facilities totaling 14.7 bcm of the required 19 bcm as of this date.