REUTERS
In an effort to mass up natural gas reserves in its underground storage facilities in a run-up to the 2015-2016 heating season, Ukraine is increasing its reverse gas imports from Slovakia, with the daily volume of gas supplies amounting to 25.5 million cubic meters (mcm), according to PJSC Ukrtransgaz, operator of Ukraine's gas transportation system.
A total of 379 mcm of natural gas were imported from Slovakia during the same period last year, according to the report.
In general, Ukraine has imported more than 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from the EU through Slovakia over the year.
On September 10, during his visit to Slovakia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced an increase in reverse gas purchases from Slovakia up to 100% of the pipeline capacity.
A record high daily volume of gas imports through Slovakia was recorded in January 2015, with the supplies exceeding 44 mcm.
Gas reserves in Ukraine's underground storage facilities have increased by 1.83%, or 269 mcm, to 14.964 bcm in just a week - from September 5 to September 12.
As UNIAN reported earlier, according to Yatsenyuk, Ukraine intends to boost its natural gas reserves to 19 bcm before the beginning of winter heating season in mid-October to ensure uninterrupted gas transit to Europe.
On July 1, Ukraine suspended gas deliveries from Russia after fruitless talks in Vienna and significantly reduced its purchases from the EU. At this, Ukraine expects to mobilize enough funds from international financial organizations by September to secure necessary reserves in its underground gas storage facilities for the next heating season.