Ukraine ups gas supplies from Europe in 2020

Gas supplies from Europe to Ukraine for 11 months of 2020 amounted to 15.6 billion cubic meters, which is 11%, or 1.6 billion cubic meters, more than in the same period last year.

That's according to the press service of the state-owned Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine.

"In October-November, we recorded a significant reduction in the volume of gas transmission from Europe to Ukraine and, at the same time, an increase in re-export from Ukrainian USFs to Europe. The situation is quite expected and typical for this period. After all, the autumn-winter season has begun, and traders who had been pumping gas into storage since summer, started taking it out of Ukrainian USFs for supply to European markets. The trend will prevail until April," the press service wrote, referring to Yevhen Todorov, CCO at Gas TSO of Ukraine

It is noted that for 11 months of 2020, gas imports from Slovakia amounted to almost 10.2 billion cubic meters (+12% on year), from Hungary – to almost 3.9 bcm (+10%), and from Poland – to almost 1.6 bcm (+12%).

Read alsoGas sales exceed imports on Dec 1 – GTS operatorVirtual in reverse flow (backhaul) mode, which first became available at the beginning of this year, 45%, or 7.1 bcm, was imported, including 3.1 bcm from Slovakia, 2.9 bcm from Hungary, and 1.1 bcm from Poland.

The report adds that 82 traders ordered gas transmission from the EU to Ukraine in January-November, including 52 Ukrainian companies and 30 foreign firms. More than 50 companies, most of which are non-residents, have used short-haul and "customs warehouse" services.

Background

In 2019, Ukraine increased imports of natural gas by 34.4%, or by 3.65 bcm, to 14.25 bcm.

In 2018, compared to 2017, Ukraine reduced gas imports by 24.6%, to 10.59 bcm.