JSC Ukrtransgaz (UTG) has completed the upgrading of five compressor stations for the reverse mode operation, as a part of preparations for the heating season 2019/2020.
“In case of partial or completed halt of transit, [five compressor stations] will provide a nonstop gas supply of the Ukrainian consumers of east and south regions due to transportation of gas from the European countries and from the underground gas storages in the west part of Ukraine,” the company said in its report.
In particular, upgrading of compressor stations in Khust, Bohorodchany, Husiatyn, Bar, Oleksandrivka improved the capabilities of the gas transmission system in terms of the operational redistribution of gas flows and will allow optimizing the technological gas flow, when operating in reverse mode.
The company reminded that it already had worked in a mode of the complete absence of transit. At that time, there were no regular opportunities to switch to reverse mode, therefore, a temporary ‘west-east’ gas supply scheme was used.
“Today Ukrtransgaz implemented all the necessary technical and regulatory solutions to create a reliable reverse circuit, it is ready for operation in normal mode and, if necessary, can be immediately activated,” the company said.
As reported, fears that Russia’s Gazprom will completely stop gas transit through Ukraine from January 2020 force the country to enter the winter season with higher than usual reserves in underground gas storage facilities (UGS). CEO of Naftogaz Ukrainy Andriy Kobolev has already announced the plan to accumulate about 20 billion cubic meters of gas by November 2019, which is 3-4 billion cubic meters more than in recent years.
