Naftogaz caught itself: storage facilities will be replenished with imported gas for money

Naftogaz of Ukraine is starting to buy gas abroad in order to fulfill the government's reserve plan for next winter. This was announced by the former head of the "GTS Operator of Ukraine" Sergey Makogon.

"Despite all previous statements that Naftogaz does not plan to import gas this year, according to my data, Naftogaz has started purchasing gas from the EU for delivery to Ukraine," the former head of the operator of the gas transportation system of Ukraine wrote on Facebook.

He noted that Naftogaz urgently needed to start importing gas to prepare for the next winter at the beginning of summer in order to have time to fulfill the government's plan of 13.2 billion cubic meters.

"But Naftogaz has started only now… But now the price is not 362 dollars per 1000 m3, as it was at the beginning and in the middle of summer, but already 453 dollars, which is almost 25% more expensive. That is, Naftogaz will overpay almost 25% because of such a management decision (of course, if the price does not increase further)," continued Sergey Makogon.

He noted that Naftogaz plans to buy 600 million cubic meters and the overpayment will amount to $ 54 million or 2.22 billion UAH.

"I think that this is definitely not extra money for Naftogaz and the country," writes Sergey Makogon.

The former head of the GTS Operator of Ukraine noted that previously the national company had all the possibilities for import. Firstly, there were UAH 89 billion in accounts. In addition, Naftogaz bought gas from private miners, who would not have left the country anyway.

Sergey Makogon's information is confirmed by GIE data. As of August 26, there were 11.6 billion cubic meters in Ukraine's storage facilities. At the same time, the average injection in August was about 27 million cubic meters. At this rate, by October 1, the national company will not fulfill the government plan for just 600 million cubic meters.

Despite the fact that in storage, even with such a record low volume, not all gas will be Ukrainian. There are still 1.2 billion cubic meters of fuel from European traders who pumped it last year, but they are afraid to replenish stocks this year because of the warning strikes of the Russian army.

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