Ukraine's gas imports from EU exceed 2014 record levels - Gas TSO of Ukraine

Gas imports from the European Union to Ukraine reached 70 million cubic meters per day, which is the highest level since 2014, according to Sergiy Makogon, Director General of Gas Transmission System Operator (TSO) of Ukraine LLC.

"Gas imports from the EU reached 70 million cubic meters per day. This is a record high since 2014, when there were still imports from Russia," Makogon wrote on Facebook.

According to him, such a significant increase was due to the creation of virtual interconnection points at the borders with Poland and Hungary, as well as the launch of a virtual reverse flow. "Last year, the maximum capacity of imports did not exceed 66 million cubic meters per day and was limited by the existing infrastructure. Now, with a virtual reverse [flow], imports can reach 170 million cubic meters per day," Makogon wrote.

According to him, most gas imports go for seasonal pumping into underground storage facilities. Ukraine’s Naftogaz pumped significant gas volumes two years ago, while this year companies from the EU pump significant volumes, Makogon explained, adding that this is “an additional significant revenue to the budget of Ukraine”.

As reported by Ukrinform, in November 2019, Ukraine stopped buying gas from Russia and started imports from the European Union, in particular, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.

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