"It's better to rely on imports. Anything could happen," says Naftogaz CEO.
Despite supposedly 100% accumulation in domestic storage facilities, Kyiv will not stop importing gas due to constant attacks on its own gas production infrastructure.
This was announced by Naftogaz Chairman of the Board Serhiy Koretsky at a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Naftogaz has accumulated 13,2 billion cubic meters of gas in underground storage facilities, achieving 100% of the government's target. To achieve this, Naftogaz spent approximately $1 billion of its own funds and approximately $1.5 billion in borrowed funds, also in partnership with the government.
The amount is so large because there was a need for additional gas imports due to the massive shelling in February and March, which resulted in the loss of a large portion of domestic gas production. This loss was covered by additional imports, and there are 13,2 billion in the pipeline," Koretsky asserted.
However, due to the impact on oil and gas production this autumn, these volumes are becoming insufficient.
"To ensure a sustainable heating season, given the loss of domestic production, an additional slightly more than 4 billion cubic meters of gas is needed before the end of the heating season.
There are several possible scenarios for how events could develop: continued attacks and destruction, the possibility of fully or partially utilizing underground storage facilities, and internal mining.
"That's why we've set ourselves the goal of equal additional imports. Imports continue to flow in, just as they did throughout the summer preparatory season. And we're not stopping this process. It's better to look at things critically and be prepared for various scenarios," the Ukrainian official explained.
"It's better to rely on imports. Anything can happen," says the head of Naftogaz.