Naftogaz plans to up gas production to 15 bcm in 2024, build wind farms in Odessa and Nikolayev regions

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - Naftogaz Group plans to produce 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2024 thanks to PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannya (UGV) and PJSC Ukrnafta.

"Our plan for 2024 is to approach 15 bcm thanks to the Ukrgazvydobuvannya and Ukrnafta enterprises," Ukrainian media quoted Naftogaz chief Alexei Chernyshov as saying at the Made in Ukraine forum in Kiev on Monday.

He said UGV produced 13.5 bcm of gas in 2023.

It has been reported with reference to UGV head Oleg Tolmachev that the company raised gas production approximately 700 million cubic meters last year compared with 2022, when it produced 12.5 bcm of saleable gas.

Ukrnafta increased production of oil with condensate by 39,900 tonnes or 3% to 1,409,900 tonnes in 2023. Production of natural and associated petroleum gas increased by 60.4 mcm or 5.8% to 1.097 bcm.

Ukrnafta has the strategic goal of doubling oil and natural gas production by 2027, to 3 million tonnes and 2 bcm respectively.

Naftogaz owns 50% plus one share in Ukrnafta and 100% of UGV.

Chernyshov also said the group's first wind farms, which are now being designed, would be built in the Odessa and Nikolayev regions.

"We're designing two wind farms in 2024. We plan to build them in the Odessa and Nikolayev regions," he told reporters at the Made in Ukraine forum.

He did not give any other details.

"Regarding cooperation with the European Investment Bank and other international financial organizations: we are developing decarbonization strategies and strategies that will increase the share of alternative energy in Naftogaz group mix," he said.

Naftogaz Group received a 'green' tariff and a license to sell electricity for a new solar power plant in Chudnov in the Zhitomir region with a peak capacity of 33.3 MW in October 2020, and commissioned the Andreyevka solar power plant in the Balakleya district of the Kharkov region with capacity of 0.999 MW in early July.