Ukrainian UGS facilities have some 10 bcm of gas as of early March - Naftogaz CEO
MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax) - Ukrainian underground gas storage (UGS) facilities are holding around 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas as of the beginning of March, Naftogaz of Ukraine CEO Alexei Chernyshov said.
"Ukraine's UGS facilities are currently storing about 10 bcm of gas, and, given the pace at which gas is being taken from them, we can hope that these stockpiles are sufficient for the conclusion of the heating season," Ukrainian media quoted Chernyshov as saying in an article published in the Ekonomichna Pravda online newspaper.
Weather forecasts suggest that March will be relatively warm, so even an increase in demand for gas for electricity generation will not seriously impact the balance on Ukraine's gas market, he said.
A key aspect of Ukraine's energy security should become domestic stable gas production, Chernyshov said, adding that Naftogaz is working to raise gas output in the country's western Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk and Zakarpattia regions, which are currently the safest place in Ukraine for investments and the development of production.
In these regions, specialists have already started 3D seismic exploration research, which will be conducted on more than 1,500 square kilometers. Plans for 2023 include drilling 12 new wells in Ukraine's western regions and upgrading existing infrastructure.
"Increasing gas production is a priority for Naftogaz. Our goal for this year is to raise it by an additional 1 bcm. If total gas production in Ukraine stands at over 18.5 bcm, we will be able to do without imports at all," Chernyshov said.
An objective set to the company is to have at least 15 bcm of gas in Ukraine's gas storage facilities by the start of the next heating season, he said.
As reported, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said at a government meeting on January 24, 2023 that there were around 11 bcm of gas in Ukraine's UGS facilities at the time. The government also allowed Naftogaz to seek a grant of 189 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to finance additional gas imports.