Ukraine can start natural gas exports this winter - Ukrtransgaz

Ukraine will start natural gas exports to the EU during the heating season if the situation on the European market is favorable, acting Director General of Ukrtransgaz Sergiy Pereloma has said.

"This year the filling of Ukrainian gas storage facilities [with natural gas] will reach the highest level in the last decade. Accordingly, the operator of underground gas storage facilities has done everything possible to ensure that the next heating season goes without any critical situations. We do not rule out that Ukraine will start its own gas export to the EU countries. Domestic underground storage facilities today have enough reserves not only to provide heat to Ukrainians, but also to receive additional income from the sale of natural gas abroad," the company's press service quoted Pereloma as saying.

In early October, the volume of natural gas in domestic gas storage facilities reached 27.9 billion cubic meters. Three Ukrainian gas storage facilities - Dashavske, Bohorodchanske and Kehychivske - have already completed the 2020 pumping season, with them being about 99% full. This is the highest level in the last ten years. High gas reserves help stabilize the gas market and allow the 2020/2021 heating season to run smoothly, even in cold winter.

op