In January, 2.4 bcm of gas were withdrawn from Ukraine's underground storage facilities – 7.8% less year-over-year
Ukrtransgaz – Ukrainian Storage System Operator completed the first month of 2022, storing 11.1 bcm of gas in underground storage facilities. In January 2022, the rate of gas withdrawal decreased slightly vs the previous month, due, in particular, to lower export activity of traders. Therefore, provided that the stability of Ukraine's energy balance is further maintained, the gas reserves currently stored in UGS will be sufficient for uninterrupted passage of the 2021/2022 heating season.
Gas withdrawal
During January of this year, 2.4 bcm of natural gas were physically withdrawn from Ukrainian UGS. This figure is 7.8% lower year-over-year. In total, 7.5 bcm of gas have been withdrawn from Ukrainian underground storage facilities since the beginning of the 2021/2022 withdrawal season.
Natural gas reserves in UGS
As of February 1, 2022, natural gas reserves in underground storage facilities amounted to 11.1 bcm of gas.
We would notice that in the period from 2014 to 2019, Ukrainian underground storage facilities started February with gas reserves higher than this year only in 2018. In other years, gas volumes in UGS as of February 1 were below 11 bcm. The minimum filling level was 9.1 bcm in February 2015.
Using “customs warehouse” and “short-haul” services
As of February 1, 2022, foreign traders are storing 0.2 bcm of gas in the “customs warehouse” regime. Of these, 0.13 bcm were accumulated in the “short-haul” regime. Resident companies are storing 0.42 bcm of gas in the in the “customs warehouse” regime. Of these, the volume transferred to the UGS in the “short-haul” regime is 0.34 bcm.
* w/o taking into account the reserves of Verhunske UGS located in the temporarily uncontrolled territory of Donetsk region