Ukraine Must Inject 19 bcm to Fulfill Transit Commitment, Says Gazprom

Ukraine has to inject 19 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas into underground gas storage facilities (GSF) by Naftogaz to fulfill the transit commitment, says Russia’s Gazprom. 

Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee, met Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yury Boiko on Tuesday.

“The parties discussed natural gas injection into underground gas storage (UGS) facilities by Naftogaz Ukrainy. It was noted that Ukrainian UGS facilities should store over 19 billion cubic meters of gas by the beginning of the autumn-winter period for the Ukrainian company to fulfill its commitments on uninterrupted transit of Russian gas to Europe,” reads the note.

Miller and Boiko also discussed the $1 billion advanced payment made by Gazprom last week.

Recently, Gazprom said that the timely execution of plans to fill the storage facilities is essential for Naftogaz to fulfill its obligations to ship gas to Europe without interruptions. 

Ukraine's government is keen to produce locally to ease its dependence on Russian gas. Ukraine also continues to make ambitious plans to decrease national energy consumption, switch its power stations from natural gas to coal, build an LNG terminal, and open reverse flows of gas from Europe.