Gas consumption in Russia's UGSS sets new record for second day

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Gas consumption in parts of Russia served by the Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) set a new record for the second consecutive day on Saturday, even as gas consumption in the manufacturing sector decreased for objective reasons.

Gas deliveries through the UGSS reached a new all-time record of 1,814.7 million cubic meters over 24 hours on January 13, beating the previous day's record of 1,788.3 mcm, Gazprom reported.

The previous absolute maximum was recorded almost ten years ago, on January 30, 2014, when 1,786.8 mcm of gas were shipped.

"The continued growth of gas consumption is due to the colder weather. The average outdoor temperature in the area covered by the Unified Gas Supply System fell to negative 19.8 degrees Celsius on January 13," Gazprom said.

Gas supplies through Gazprom's gas transportation system have been reliable during the latest cold snap this winter, in part thanks to the operations of underground gas storage facilities, the company said.

The UGSS is Gazprom's network of trunk gas pipelines, which covers the European part of Russia and Siberia to Altai and Kemerovo Region. Parts of the country further east are served by autonomous gas transport systems, which are expected to be connected to the UGSS in future.