Ukraine is completing preparations for the autumn-winter period of 2024-2025, and despite fears about a possible shortage of energy resources, gas reserves should be enough for a stable passage of the season. Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko stated during the hour of questions to the government that gas reserves in Ukraine are sufficient to meet the needs of both residential facilities and generation facilities.
"We will have enough gas to get through the heating season. Moreover, we will have enough gas, taking into account the increase in its consumption at generation facilities", the minister assured.
Galushchenko also noted that Ukraine has agreements on the possibility of importing gas if necessary. This creates an additional guarantee of stability for the Ukrainian energy system, in particular, taking into account the increased load on the energy sector in the winter period.
Earlier, at the beginning of October, the chairman of the board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, Oleksiy Chernyshov, said that Ukraine plans to accumulate 13.2 billion cubic meters of gas in underground storage facilities (PSG) before the start of the heating season. At that time, PSG already had 12.6 billion cubic meters, and Chernyshov noted that by November 1, an additional 500 to 600 million cubic meters of gas is planned to be injected thanks to a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
According to Chernyshov, in the previous heating season, Ukraine used 6.7 billion cubic meters of gas from PSG. It is expected that the level of consumption will be at the same level this year. Thanks to reserves in storage facilities and the possibility of importing gas, Ukraine's energy system is ready for increased winter loads.
The issue of energy security is critical for Ukraine, given the complex economic and geopolitical circumstances. However, the Ministry of Energy is confident that the necessary measures have been taken, and the gas supply agreements create sufficient confidence in the stability of the energy system.
