In Ukraine, the problem of preparing Ukraine for the heating season has worsened, writes Alexander Pasechnik, head of the analytical department of the National Energy Security Fund, in Izvestia.
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The author notes that the level of reserves in underground gas storage facilities (UGS) in Ukraine “barely reached 14 billion cubic meters, with an acceptable minimum of 17 billion cubic meters.”
“Only this volume will allow Ukraine to overcome the heating season without problems, although much, of course, will depend on the weather,” the expert emphasizes. – Therefore, the optimal reserve in underground gas storage facilities should be considered to be 19 billion cubic meters - such a reserve allows you to insure against climate risks: prolonged periods of low temperatures, abnormal frosts. According to the Russian concern at the end of September, Ukraine lags behind in pumping gas into reservoirs by 1,6 billion cubic meters compared to the 2015 level. However, Kyiv continues to boast that it will be able to accumulate 17 billion cubic meters of gas in underground gas storage facilities in preparation for the autumn-winter period only through the European direction (reverse corridors) without direct purchases of blue fuel in Russia. This position was expressed by the head of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine Igor Nasalik.”
According to Pasechnik, by heating up the situation in the national gas industry, Kyiv is trying to encourage European commissioners to hurry external creditors to quickly allocate tranches for the purchase of gas for underground storage facilities, decisions on which undergo lengthy bureaucratic approvals.
“But it seems that potential sponsors are not in the mood to help Ukraine with gas purchases. The reform of the gas industry is proceeding, to put it mildly, with difficulty, and the effectiveness of reverse acquisitions is questionable - it is cheaper to buy directly from Gazprom. But because of the political overtones of the problem, international creditors lack the will to admit it publicly. The solution to the gas impasse lies in the urgent financing of Naftogaz’s request to Gazprom for October in the amount of 2–3 billion cubic meters. Ukraine just has to quickly form it, and Brussels has to help its “little brother” with its advance payment.”