REUTERS
The share of private companies that import gas to Ukraine from Europe is 26% as of today, whereas it was a mere 1% in 2014, according to NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.
"The number of private companies in the segment of gas imports has considerably increased, exceeding two dozen now. In 2016, their imports were 15 times higher than in 2014. Now the share of non-state companies is 26% of [total gas] imports now. It was 1% in 2014," Naftogaz said on Facebook.
Not only gas traders, but also some consumers buy gas abroad, said Naftogaz's subsidiary, Ukrtransgaz, which is the operator of the Ukrainian gas transport system.
Last year, private companies imported 2.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, while Naftogaz's gas purchases abroad totaled 8.2 bcm.
Read alsoNaftogaz not to pay $5.3 bln to GazpromAs UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine in 2016 imported 11.1 bcm of gas from the European Union alone. In particular, gas imports from Slovakia were 9.1 bcm. Moreover, 1 bcm was imported from Hungary and Poland each.
The law on the natural gas market became effective in Ukraine from October 1, 2015. Under the law, Naftogaz, which is Ukraine's largest energy holding, was stripped of a monopoly on that market.