Naftogaz of Ukraine transfers $2.38 bln in taxes to budget in 2023

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Enterprises of the Naftogaz of Ukraine group paid 90.2 billion hryvnia [$2.38 billion at the current exchange rate] in taxes in 2023, Ukrainian media reported, citing Naftogaz's statement on social media.

"Our group of companies transferred UAH 83.4 billion to the federal budget over the past year, and UAH 6.8 billion to local budgets," Naftogaz said.

The group's enterprises specifically transferred UAH 6 billion to the federal budget and UAH 500 million to local budgets in December 2023.

"We continue to remain one of the largest taxpayers for the government," Naftogaz head Alexei Chernyshov was quoted as saying in the statement.

Gas Supply Company Naftogaz of Ukraine LLC currently continues to supply gas to 12.3 million consumers, with 1,242 contracts having been concluded with 449 heat and utilities enterprises and 793 associations of co-owners of apartment buildings.

Gas reserves in Ukraine's storage facilities are sufficient to last through the heating season, according to the statement.

"This is the second winter in crisis conditions and the first one in the history of independence, which we are going through at the expense of gas of our own production. Its reserves are sufficient for the successful completion of the heating season," thecompany said.

Naftogaz Trading Group has concluded 1,242 contracts for gas supply under special obligations with 449 power utilities and 793 condominiums, while the number of Naftogaz of Ukraine's customers (household consumers) stands at 12.3 million, it said.

In addition, Naftogaz Group manages seven thermal power plants that provide heat to consumers in Kamenskoye, Krivoi Rog, Novoyavorovsk, Novy Rozdol, Nikolayev, Odessa, and Kherson.

As reported, Naftogaz CEO Alexei Chernyshov said at the end of September 2023 that for the first time Ukraine will go through the upcoming heating season only at the expense of gas of its own production.

In early November, it was reported, citing the Energy Ministry that gas reserves in UGS facilities stood at 16.02 bcm. The target for building up the resource at the beginning of the heating season was 14.7 bcm. At the same time, it was reported with reference to Ukraine's Gas Transmission System Operator (OGTSU) that over 3 bcm had been pumped into UGS facilities by European companies for storage.

In early October, Naftogaz said that it plans to sign contracts with 1,264 heat producers. The gas price for providing heat and hot water supply services to households remains at UAH 7,420 per 1,000 cubic meters (including VAT).

The official exchange rate as on January 15, 2024, is UAH 37.84/$1.