Naftogaz: Gas reserves enough, even if frosts recur

Gas reserves in underground storage facilities (UGS) will be enough for Ukraine even if the March abnormal cold snap recurs, Naftogaz of Ukraine has posted on its Facebook page.

"We hope that in April we will not have to spend a winter. But if even the second month of spring decides to surprise us with frosts, then there will be enough gas reserves," the message says.

According to Naftogaz, at present there are 8.4 billion cubic meters of gas in the country's underground gas storage facilities, which is 300 million cubic meters more than the same date last year. At the same time, the company recalled that the heating season of 2016-2017 ended with record gas reserves for four years.

EADaily recalls that Ukraine suspended purchases of the Russian gas in November 2015. From that moment, Gazprom's gas is bought, but by the reverse from Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Naftogaz transferred money to Gazprom to pay for gas supplies in March. Though, the Russian company returned them because of an inconsistent supplementary agreement to the contract. According to the deputy chairman of the Gazprom board Alexander Medvedev, in this connection, since March 1 there has been no supply of gas to Naftogaz.

The head of the Ukrainian company Andriy Kobolyev said that in case of the onset of frost, forecasted in early March, the gas deficit would amount to 18-20 million cubic meters per day. Since March 3, Kobolyev proposed introducing a special regime for gas consumption.