Ukraine completes season of gas extraction from underground storage facilities

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - Ukraine stopped extracting gas from underground storage facilities and started pumping gas there on April 17, Ukrainian media said, citing Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).

The latest gas extraction season began on November 1, when underground facilities were storing 87.037 TW/h (8.315 billion cubic meters) of gas, and ended on April 16 with 7.062 TW/h (0.675 bcm) of gas stored, which was the all-time lowest amount, the media said.

About 6.5 mcm of gas were pumped into storage facilities in the past two days, according to the GIE data, which does not include about 4.6 bcm of active buffer gas, the extraction of which might affect operation of the storage facilities.

Ukraine ended this year's heating season with underground storage facilities filled at 2.22% of their capacity, versus 11.12 TW/h (3.388 bcm) of gas, or 11.12% of the capacity in storage at the end of last year's season on March 30.

As reported earlier, Ukraine started importing gas in February-March. Former head of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine Sergei Makogon estimated the imports at roughly 800 mcm.

At least 9 bcm of gas (in addition to buffer gas) needs to be pumped into underground storage facilities before the next heating season, as this year's experience shows it is very risky to start the season with a lower amount, he said.

"Given domestic production, Ukraine will need to import at least 5.5 bcm of gas (preferably 6.3 bcm), which costs around $2.5 billion - $3 billion. For now, I have heard about $0.4 billion grants," Makogon said.

In turn, Naftogaz Board member, Commercial Director Dmitry Abramovich said at the end of March that Ukraine needed to import from 4.5 billion to 4.6 billion cubic meters of gas by November 1, 2025.

Makogon believes that Ukraine is racing against time, as the guaranteed gas import capacity stands at around 50 mcm per day, and it takes three months to import 4.6 bcm and four months to import 5.6 billion to 6.3 billion.

"That requires the 100% use of the capacity, which is hard to accomplish commercially. I mean the imports of substantial amounts of gas need to begin as early as in May to get the necessary amounts by November 1," Makogon said.