Ukraine increases gas imports from EU by 24% in H1 2020

Ukraine has increased natural gas imports from the EU countries by 24% in the first half-year of 2020.

“In the first half-year of 2020, natural gas imports from the EU reached 7 billion cubic meters. This is 30% (1.3 billion cubic meters) more than in the same period last year. That is also 40% more than the average in 2016-2019,” the press service of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine informs.

According to the operational data by LLC “GTS Operator of Ukraine”, 1.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas were imported to Ukraine in June 2020. This is 9% more (by 154 million cubic meters) than the import volumes in June 2019. And 36% more (by 482 million cubic meters) exceeding the import volumes in April 2020

During the first half-year of 2020, imports from Slovakia were about 3.9 billion cubic meters (+16% compared to the same period last year), from Hungary – 2.2 billion cubic meters (+39%), from Poland – 0.9 billion cubic meters (+34%).

“It should be noted that import volumes include the virtual reverse, which became available for the first time since this year: from Hungary – 1.2 billion cubic meters and from Poland – 0.5 billion cubic meters,” the statement reads.

Since the beginning of the year, 3.7 billion cubic meters of imported volumes, including 49% or 1.8 billion cubic meters in short-haul mode, – were transferred to underground gas storages to be stored in the “customs warehouse” mode.

“As of today, all imported volumes of natural gas come exclusively from EU countries. Since November 2015, Ukraine has not been importing gas from the Russian Federation,” the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine underscores.

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