Ukrtransgaz's certification as European operator to allow Ukraine's UGS facilities to store European strategic gas reserves - company head

MOSCOW. Dec 14 (Interfax) - A bill that was adopted by the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada in the second reading on Tuesday, giving a go-ahead to the certification of JSC Ukrtransgaz, which operates Ukrainian underground gas storage (UGS) facilities, as a European UGS operator in line with European Union rules, will allow Ukraine to offer its facilities for the storage of EU countries' strategic gas reserves.

"We can switch to the practical implementation of this process jointly with the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ukraine. We need to receive the right at the official level as soon as possible to be able to store not only commercial reserves but the strategic gas reserves of EU countries. Successful certification will be key to cooperation between Ukraine and our European partners," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Ukrtransgaz head Sergei Pereloma as saying in a social media post.

The conclusion of the certification process will help fill Ukraine's UGS facilities to the maximum, boost financial proceeds from underground storage services, strengthen energy stability in Ukraine and on the continent as a whole, and facilitate the Ukrainian gas market's further development and its fundamental integration with the European gas market, Pereloma said.

The National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission on December 13 approved a draft directive that details a procedure for this certification process and contains a list of documents, data and information to be provided by an enterprise that submits the relevant application, he said.

As reported, a decision on certifying Ukrtransgaz as an UGS operator in accordance with EU standards will be adopted based on the analysis and conclusions of Ukraine's National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat.

Twelve underground gas storage facilities of Ukrtransgaz, which is 100% owned by Naftogaz of Ukraine, have a total capacity of 31 billion cubic meters of gas.