Latest news with #Makogon
Reuters
20-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Ukraine may need to import 6.3 bcm of gas for next winter as reserves hit record low
KYIV, April 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine may need to import up to 6.3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas for the 2025/26 winter season as reserves have fallen to a record low due to war-related damage to some facilities, the former head of its gas transit operator said on Sunday. Ukraine has been forced to ramp up gas withdrawals from storage and increase imports this winter and spring after Russian missile attacks damaged production facilities in the east of the country, Serhiy Makogon said on Telegram messenger. Quoting data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), he said that the storage level was "the lowest ever" at 0.7 bcm - 2.22% of full storage capacity - as of April 16, the end of the winter and spring season. Makogon said the country would need to collect at least 12.8 bcm of gas in reserve, including 4.6 bcm of process - or buffer - gas that is needed to ensure sufficient pressure in storage facilities. "According to my calculations, given the volume of domestic production, this will require imports of at least 5.5 bcm of gas, preferably 6.3 bcm," Makogon said. He noted that Ukraine's state oil and gas firm Naftogaz had announced the required volume of imports at a lower level of 4.6 bcm. Makogon said that even this amount would cost the country up to $3 billion, although existing available funds were enough to purchase only 0.4 bcm. Naftogaz and the government would need to find significant funds to bridge the gap, he said. There was guaranteed capacity to pump gas into storage of about 1.5 bcm per month and the country needs up to four months of imports at full capacity to meet that target, he added. In March, the then head of the transit operator, Dmytro Lyppa, told Reuters that Ukraine needed to import at least 4 bcm of gas for the new heating season, and half of the volume could be liquefied gas, LNG.
Reuters
29-01-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Ukraine has to start urgent gas imports, says ex-head of transit operator
KYIV, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The volume of gas in Ukraine's storage facilities has fallen to near the critical 10% mark and the country urgently needs to start importing significant amounts to meet its needs, the former head of the transit operator Serhiy Makogon said on Facebook. Daily gas production cannot cover all of Ukraine's requirements in the cold season and the country pumps gas into storage during the summer months for use in winter. "Our storage facilities are gradually but surely approaching the level of 10% fullness," Makogon said, adding that this would reduce possible withdrawals to 60 million cubic meters (mcm) per day. As gas in storage is pressurised, lower levels mean less can be extracted on a daily basis. "This will mean that we will not be able to meet gas demand through production and underground gas facilities, and we will need to import gas on an emergency basis," he said. Storage facilities were approximately 20% full a year ago and 22-23% full at the same point in 2023, he noted. Makogon said current daily gas consumption is about 110 mcm, covered by 52 mcm of production and 58 mcm from storage. He noted that with frosts, consumption could rise as far as 150 mcm, a jump that could not be covered from reserves, meaning imports would be required "in significant volumes and at any price". The gas storage operator, which is part of the state-owned Naftogaz oil and gas firm, did not respond to a request for comment. Ukraine has stopped reporting the volume of gas in storage facilities, which have been the target of regular Russian missile attacks. Data from the gas transmission operator shows Ukraine is importing small amounts of gas from Hungary. Russian gas flows to Europe via Ukraine ended at the start of the year after Kyiv refused to extend a transit agreement with Moscow to reduce revenue streams supporting its war in Ukraine. Industry sources have previously said that Ukraine needs to import about 100 mcm of gas per month during winter to maintain its system after the shutdown of the Russian transit.
