You're reading: Ukrainian gas stocks shrink 1 percent since start of heating season

 Gas stocks in Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities decreased by 1 percent or 163.69 million cubic meters between Oct. 20, when the heating season got under way, and Oct. 25, gas pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz said.

Underground gas storage facilities contained 16.75 bcm of gas on Oct. 20, falling to 16.586 bcm on Oct. 25.

Ukraine started withdrawing gas from underground gas storage facilities on Oct. 20, taking around 10 mcm of gas out that day.

Ukraine imports gas from Europe in addition the gas it produces itself and the gas it stores. Annual gas supplies from Slovakia averaged 26.5 mcm in the period Oct. 20-26 and from Poland – 2.6 mcm. Ukraine has not imported gas from Hungary since Sept. 26.

Ukrainian had stored 16.672 bcm of gas as of Oct. 1. Gas stocks grew 5.8 percent during September.

Ukraine put 11.635 bcm of gas into underground gas storage facilities last year and withdrew 12.665 bcm, or 8.9 percent more than it stored. Ukrtransgaz took 12.328 bcm out of storage and Crimea-based Chornomornaftogaz – 337 mcm.

Ukrtransgaz has 12 underground gas storage facilities with total capacity of 31 bcm at its disposal.