This was disclosed by Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk. As reported, the ministry and Naftogaz Ukrainy had different opinions about the volume of gas in its underground storage facilities which the country must have before the start of the heating season. Naftogaz believed that 14.5-15 bcm is enough, while the ministry insisted on 17 bcm.
Ukraine would enter the 2017/2018 heating season with about 17 bcm in storage. If Ukraine injects about 50 mcm a day into underground storage in July-September 2017, it would enter the 2017/2018 heating season with about 16 bcm in storage. It had 14.7 bcm in storage when the 2016/2017 heating season began in mid-October 2016. Ukraine has increased gas inventories in underground storage 34% since the end of the heating season.
