Gas transport from EU to Ukraine surges 600% - Energy Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 17 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSOU) transported more than 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas to the country from the European Union and Moldova in the period from April to mid-October, seven times more than the approximately 414 mcm transported in the same period last year, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Energy Ministry.

Most of this gas - 2.4 bcm - is fuel owned by foreign companies that is being stored in Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities.

Slovakia remained the main source of transported gas, accounting for 45% of the total, according to GTSOU information cited by the ministry. Gas was also transported from Hungary, Poland and along the Trans-Balkan route, from Romania through Moldova.

The ministry said the Trans-Balkan route was used for the first time this year and it primarily transported gas on orders from foreign traders for storage in Ukraine.

It was reported earlier that 982.7 mcm of gas was transported to Ukraine from the EU and Moldova in September. The figure for April-September was over 2.8 bcm, which was more than in the same periods of 2021 and 2022.

Naftogaz Group head Alexei Chernyshev said earlier that the amount of gas held in Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities by nonresidents reached 2.2 bcm at the beginning of October.