Ukraine increases gas consumption by 30% to 130 mln cubic meters per day - first deputy PM

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Ukraine has increased gas consumption by 30% in the 2025-2026 heating season to average 130 million cubic meters (mcm) per day, Ukrainian media said, citing First Deputy Prime Minister, Energy Minister Denis Shmygal.

"Gas consumption is about 30% larger this year due to weather conditions. Both in January and in February. This is the first day consumption is the same as last year. Last winter was quite warm, and we consumed about 100 mcm per day, versus 130 mcm on the average this year. Still, we have 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in underground storage facilities now, which makes us confident that we will smoothly pass through this heating season even though consumption is so large," the media cited Shmygal as saying at a meeting of the Ukrainian parliament's Energy Committee on Thursday.

The risk of gas deficit is moderate, and Naftogaz of Ukraine started directing some of the imported gas into the pipeline this year "as insurance," he said.

"The situation with gas and gas reserves is better this year than it was last year, and we feel confident," Shmygal said.

This year. Ukraine has the largest coal reserves than ever, but coal consumption by heating plants is low, he said.

As reported, Shmygal said at the same meeting that five units and one building of heating plants with the total capacity of 854 MW are in operation. Nuclear power plants provide 7.5MW, and almost 2 GW are imported. On sunny days, yesterday and the day before yesterday, solar power plants generated 1.6-1.7 GW of electricity during peak hours. Electricity shortage in Ukraine is estimated at 4.3-4.5 GW. The maximum consumption forecasted at this point is 16.4 GW.