Ukraine started the withdrawal of gas from the underground storage facilities (UGSF)

Ukraine started the withdrawal of gas from the underground storage facilities (UGSF), according to the reports of the Association of European Operators of UGSF GSE.

According to the organization’s data, in the last weeks the reserve of gas in the UGSF decreased by 0.06%, reports TASS. Nevertheles, reverse flows of gas to Ukraine from Poland and Slovakia constituted 571.6 mln cubic meters during the 20 days of October, reports “Ukrtranshaz”. It means that domestic production plus European reverse flows are not enough for the satisfaction of Ukraine’s inner demand.

In the two first weeks of October Ukraine used no more than 20% of the reverse gas for the filling of the UGSF. Reverse flows from Hungary were not carried out since the beginning of October. In the course of 14 days of October Ukraine acquired 39.2 mln cubic meters through Polish reverse flow. “Naftohaz” received 359 mln cubic meters from Slovakia.

In this period no more than 90 mln cubic meters of gas had been pumped into Ukrainian UGSF (no more than 20% of the total volume of reverse flow during the two weeks of October).

Pumping of the gas into UGSF is usually completed in the middle of October. As of now 16.7 bln cubic meters of gas had been pumped in; at that the necessary minimum is 17 bln cubic meters plus about 5 bln cubic meters of buffer gas.

Be reminded, that the attempt to sign the temporary gas supply agreement between Russia and Ukraine in Brussels last Tuesday was abortive.

Notably, GSE suggested that it would buy gas and then sell it to Ukraine. However, Miller said that Moscow is not considering an option of the appearance of a European mediating company, which would buy gas on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

On his part, Novak said that the introduction of a European mediator into the deals between “Gazprom” and “Naftohaz Ukrainy” would demand amendments to the transit contract, and Moscow was against that.

Novak also said, that the GSE together with Ukraine would determine the source of payments for new deliveries of Russian for Kiev in the course of five working days; till then the volume of gas Ukraine will need for the winter and the sources of finances remain unclear.