Ukraine ups gas imports tenfold to 1.1 billion cubic meters since year start
As of May 5, natural gas imports to Ukraine since the beginning of 2025 amounted to 1.12 billion cubic meters.
This is announced by the ExPro publication, Ukrainian News Agency reports.
The report states that compared to the same period last year, import volumes increased almost 10 times - from 118 million cubic meters in 2024 to 1.12 billion cubic meters in 2025.
The significant increase in gas imports in 2025 is due to the need for the resource for the 2024-2025 heating season after damage to production due to russian attacks in February.
It is noted that in February, gas imports amounted to 512 million cubic meters, which was the highest level since September 2023.
Ukraine has also begun preparing for the next heating season by importing natural gas to create reserves for the coming winter.
The bulk of the gas was imported from Hungary - 669 million cubic meters or almost 60% of all imports. In addition, 261 million cubic meters of gas (23%) were imported from Slovakia, and 190 million cubic meters (17%) from Poland.
According to ExPro, the main importer of natural gas was the Naftogaz group - almost 900 million cubic meters since the beginning of the year or 80% of all imports.
In addition, some private companies imported natural gas for further sale at auctions of JSC Ukrtransgaz on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange.
In April-May, the only importer of natural gas was NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.
In addition, as reported in ExPro Gas&Oil Weekly, in May 2025 the company intends to import over 400 million cubic meters of natural gas from Hungary and Poland.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Naftogaz Group has attracted a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the amount of EUR 270 million, as well as grant financing in the amount of EUR 140 million provided by the Government of Norway through the NORAD Fund.
Gas storage operator Ukrtransgaz has started a new season of natural gas injection into underground storage facilities (UGS).
Former Director General of the Gas Transportation System Operator of Ukraine (GTS) Serhii Makohon said that Ukraine needs to find up to USD 3 billion quite quickly to start importing gas from May.