Volumes of natural gas transmitted to Europe and Moldova through Ukrainian territory from January to October totaled 74.5 billion cubic meters, which was 24.8% (24.6 billion cubic meters) down on the like period in 2008, Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Ministry said.
Long-term agreements signed in January 2009 prescribe that 120.08 billion cubic meters of gas be transited to Europe and Moldova through Ukraine this year – 29.49 billion in the first, 30.33 billion in the second, 27.12 billion in the third, and 33.15 billion in the fourth quarter.
In 2008, gas transit through Ukraine to Europe amounted to 116.9 billion cubic meters, which was 4.3% (4.8 billion cubic meters) more than the year before.
Ukraine’s system of trunk gas pipelines and underground gas depots is operated by Ukrtransgas, a subsidiary of national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy.
The system can take in a maximum of 288 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Its annual output capacity is 178.5 billion cubic meters, including 142.2 billion to be forwarded to European countries.
