Gas Transmission Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) has reported 40 non-resident companies “actively using” the country’s short-haul gas storage services between April and September, as the gas injection season ends on 31 October.
Throughout the current gas injection season, the Ukrainian operator has concluded 25 new contracts for the provision of transporting services for non-residents, with more than 130 foreign clients in total.
“The reliability and responsibility that the GTS and Storage System Operators demonstrate in the provision of natural gas transportation and storage services have been highly appreciated by European customers. The situation on the European gas market creates a demand for additional storage facilities. This demand can and should be covered by Ukraine that provides its international partners with cost-effective services at very competitive prices,” said Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of GTSOU.
As of Wednesday (4 October), non-resident traders injected and stored more than two billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in Ukraine, according to Roman Maliutin, the Head of Ukrtransgaz, underground gas storage (UGS) operator of Ukrainian state-owned Naftogaz Group.
“Non-resident traders have injected more than two bcm of gas into Ukraine’s UGS. Changes in gas flows make the UGS an integral part of the European energy market, and Ukraine’s UGS will play an increasingly more important role in price trends and EU energy security,” said Mr Maliutin. “Ukrtransgaz has the potential to store renewable gases and develop green energy. We are actively involved in discussions of the necessary legislative changes and already have plans for the company’s development in this direction.”
According to the Head of Ukrtransgaz, the company’s certification as a storage system operator in April of this year creates broad prerequisites for further European integration of the Ukrainian natural gas market and work on green energy projects.
