Ukraine's gas transmission system ready to operate without Russian gas, ministry says

MOSCOW. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Ukraine's gas transmission system (GTS) and underground gas storage facilities (UGS) are ready to operate without transit of Russian gas, Ukrainian media reported citing the country's Energy Ministry.

A stress test that the Energy Ministry initiated also showed that Ukraine's GTS is ready for the 2023/2024 heating season amid military risk and potential damage to key assets, and Ukrainian UGS can be used for reliable storage of European gas, the ministry said.

The independent technical assessment was done by an international expert group after modelling of GTS and UGS operations in potential scenarios where various combinations of critical facilities break down and key assets are damaged, including the destruction of gas infrastructure and suspension of Russian gas transit, the ministry said.

"Russia could terminate the [gas transit] contract any day, regardless of the legal formalities. So our GTS must be ready for possible challenges. Our GTS is becoming a significant component of the European gas transport system. The key goal is to create an energy hub in Ukraine, including for gas storage by EU countries. A huge amount of work to certify Ukrtransgaz as an operator of gas storage to European standards was done for this," Energy Minister German Galuschenko said.

The modelling was carried out by a working group that included and was assisted by the USAID Energy Security Project, the Energy Community Secretariat, the European Commission's Joint Research Center, Simone Research Group, Naftogaz Ukraine, Ukrtransgaz and the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine.