You're reading: Ukraine gas stocks down 25 percent in three months of heating season

Gas stocks in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities declined by 25 percent or 3.677 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 11.055 bcm since Oct. 13, when the current heating season began, through Jan. 14.

Ukraine withdrew 52.84 million cubic meters (mcm) from underground storage on Jan. 14 and a total of 930.98 mcm on Jan. 1 through Jan. 14 (66.5 mcm/day on average), Ukrtransgaz, which operates the country’s pipelines and storage facilities, said in a statement.

Withdrawals amounted to 1.569 bcm in December (50.6 mcm/day on average) and 909.42 mcm in November (30.31 mcm/day).

Pumping of gas from underground storage facilities a year ago – on Jan. 14, 2016 was 72.69 mcm with stocks of 12.468 bcm and two years ago – on Jan. 14, 2015 – 61.17 mcm with stocks of 10.361 bcm.

As of Jan. 14, 2017, daily imports of gas were 46.285 mcm, of which 39.827 mcm from Slovakia, 2.531 mcm from Hungary and 3.927 mcm from Poland. Ukraine has not imported gas from Russia since Nov. 26, 2015.

Gas production in Ukraine on Jan.14 was 56.69 mcm, of which Ukrgazvydobuvannia produced 40.656 mcm, Ukrnafta 3.499 mcm and other companies 12.535 mcm.

Transit via Ukraine’s gas transportation system was 3.896 bcm in the period January 1-14, corresponding to a monthly rate of about 8.6 bcm.

Naftogaz Ukrainy officials believe the gas stocks are sufficient to make it through the heating season and, if the winter is more severe than expected, Ukraine has the capacity to increase imports. Naftogaz calculates that stocks will end the heating season in the range 7-8 bcm, compared with the minimum allowable level of 5 bcm.

Withdrawals in 2016 exceeded injections by 2 bcm: 8.391 bcm was withdrawn and 6.389 bcm was injected.