Ukraine injecting gas into underground storage facilities since mid-March - ex-energy minister

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - Ukraine has been injecting gas into its underground gas storage facilities (UGS) since mid-March, taking into account imports and a decline in natural gas consumption to 60 million-65 million cubic meters per day in favorable weather conditions, Ukrainian media quoted former Energy Minister Olga Buslavets as saying on her social account.

"Daily injection into UGS facilities this month has averaged 2 million cubic meters, with average offtake from UGS facilities over the past three years being 22 million cubic meters per day," she said.

Natural gas reserves in Ukraine's UGS facilities currently total 9.6 billion cubic meters, which is 4.0 billion cubic meters more than at this time last year.

According to the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU), net gas imports into Ukraine from Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, plus small amounts imported from Moldova and Romania, has averaged 22 million to 25 million cubic meters a day in March, taking into account re-exports and short-haul transit of 3 million to 5 million cubic meters of gas by non-residents.

According to estimates by the ICIS agency as of March 27, the Ukrainian Average Transfer Price Month-Ahead index (UAVTP MA) in March for April was UAH 23,000 per 1,000 cubic meters excluding VAT, or 42.9 euros per MWh, which is roughly 18% lower than the TTF MA price.