For a very difficult winter, the most difficult in modern history, due to the war in Ukraine says Energy Minister Herman Gerashenko. However, as the Minister points out, his country will manage to achieve the goal set by the government, to gather a stock of 19 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas in time.
Ukraine stopped importing natural gas from Russia in 2015 and now gets gas from the rest of Europe, but prices that have skyrocketed and the huge costs since the Russian invasion of February 24th cast doubt on whether it is possible to store such a huge amount of fuel.
“I think we will reach, more or less, 19 billion” said the Galushenko told Reuters, noting that the country needs this stockpile for security “in critical situations.” Natural gas is used in Ukraine mainly for heating of houses.
The government does not disclose its estimates of household consumption, but Galushenko said he believes the country will have enough fuel to get the winter out. But he predicted this winter would be the worst for Ukraine since it gained independence in 1991. “There’s no doubt about it. And not only for Ukraine but for Europe as well. There will be challenges that Europe has never seen before,” he stressed.
The minister declined to say how much gas has been stored so far, but earlier this month the head of state energy company Naftogaz Yury Vitrenko told reporters that reserves already reached 12 bcm.
As the Athens News Agency points out, it is unclear where will Ukraine find the remaining 7 bcm. Usually, the season when central heating starts working starts in mid-October. Ukraine had stockpiled around 19 bcm for winter 2020/21. Natural gas consumption has reduced by 40% compared to peacetime, while production has decreased by only 5%.
The minister said that Kyiv is also prepared in the event that Russia stops the transit of gas through Ukrainian territory. “This is one of the scenarios and we are taking it into account. Surely, we will survive” he said.
Source: News Beast
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