Former director general of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (Gas TSO of Ukraine) Serhii Makohon said that as of the end of May, 2.02 billion cubic meters of active gas were stored in Ukraine's underground storage facilities - this is the lowest figure in the entire history of observations.
He announced this on his Facebook page, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
"According to the GIE platform, as of the end of May, only 2.02 billion cubic meters of active gas (or 6.62 billion cubic meters, taking into account 4.6 billion cubic meters of buffer active gas that is not subject to withdrawal) were stored in Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities (UGS) - the level of filling was 6.72%. This is the lowest figure in the entire history of observations," Makohon noted.
Makohon reported that since the start of pumping (April 17), 1.396 billion cubic meters have been pumped into the underground storage facilities.
The average daily pumping volume is 31.7 million cubic meters, and in the last week of May it increased to 43.5 million cubic meters/day.
The former director general stated that if the current pace is maintained, by November 1 there will be only 12.8 billion cubic meters in the storage facilities (including 4.6 billion cubic meters of buffer gas), which is 800 million cubic meters less than last year's plan (13.6 billion cubic meters) - this creates risks for the passage of the winter of 2025/2026.
According to Makohon, in order to avoid a deficit, it is necessary to increase the pumping rate to at least 50-52 million cubic meters/day.
This is possible only through increased gas imports.
Last week, the average import volume was only 16.7 million cubic meters/day.
In May, 501 million cubic meters of gas were imported (54% via Hungary, 33% via Poland and 12% via Slovakia).
Makohon reported that Europe has gas, namely in May a record 12.75 billion cubic meters of liquefied gas were imported to the EU, and the EU's regasification capacities are loaded only by 53% - there is room for increasing supplies, including to Ukraine.
The former director general believes that the main problem is the lack of financing at Naftogaz.
"Despite the announced plans to attract EUR 400 million in loans and grants, this is not enough to cover the entire required volume of imports. Additional financing is needed right now," Makohon wrote.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in May, gas injection into underground storage facilities increased 1.5 times to 1.1 billion cubic meters.
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