Nonresidents boost gas storage in Ukraine 2.4-fold to 1.9 bcm in Aug

MOSCOW. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Storage of gas from the EU and Moldova in underground facilities in Ukraine totaled 1.096 billion cubic meters in August 2023 and grew to 1.884 bcm since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian media reported, quoting the website of the Gas Transport System Operator of Ukraine, or GTSOU.

Storage in the "customs warehouse" mode accounted for 66% of the August volume, and the short-haul service for the purpose of pumping into the customs warehouse for 34%.

Most of the gas was moved for storage in Ukraine by nonresident traders.

Slovakia stored 611.8 million cubic meters or 56% of the August volume, Hungary stored 215.9 cm or 20%, Moldova - 166.9 mcm or 15% and Poland - 98.4 mcm or 9%.

"Natural gas import figures for August show that this trend will continue at least in September. So far, almost all western entry points to the Ukrainian GTS are operating at full capacity: utilization in Poland was 81% in July-August and in Hungary it was 89%, and use of virtual reverse in Moldova was 98%. There is also an opportunity to increase volumes from Slovakia," said Dmitry Lippa, general director of GTSOU.

The press release also says nonresidents have been pumping more gas into storage in Ukraine as a result of measures taken by the GTSOU together with related operators and with the support of the government, the Energy Ministry and the National Commission for Regulation in the Energy and Utilities Sectors. They made it possible to utilize additional routes that appeared in 2022-2023 by an even higher percentage than routes where capacity has been in place for many years.

The company also said that together with Ukrtransgaz, stress scenarios had been simulated for Ukraine's gas infrastructure in the 2023/2024 winter season. According to an expert group, they confirmed that gas infrastructure was highly dependable.