From April to October 2023, the GTS Operator transported more than 3 bcm of natural gas from the EU and Moldova to Ukraine. This is 7 times more than the amount of gas transported in the same period last year (over 414 million cubic metres).

Of the gas transported, 2.4 bcm of gas owned by foreign companies is stored in domestic UGS facilities.

“The ordering of capacities by European traders is the result of the work carried out to certify the UGS facilities according to European standards. This activity demonstrates the full integration of the Ukrainian gas infrastructure into the European one. This is an important step towards creating an energy hub in Ukraine and making Europe independent of Russian gas,” said German Galushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian GTS Operator, Slovakia became the main destination for natural gas transport, accounting for 45% of gas volumes. Gas was also delivered from Hungary, Poland and the Trans-Balkan route (from Romania via Moldova).

The Trans-Balkan route was used for the first time this year, mainly to transport gas ordered by foreign traders for storage in Ukraine.

“It is very important for us as the Ukrainian GTS Operator to confirm that we are a reliable partner for Europe, despite all the risks. We have held many meetings with our European colleagues and customers to allay their fears. The volume of 3 bcm of gas delivered to Ukraine since April is a response of foreign companies to our efforts and a sign of confidence in Ukraine and the Ukrainian gas infrastructure,” said Dmytro Lyppa, CEO of the Ukrainian GTS Operator.

Earlier, at the initiative of the Ministry of Energy, the GTS Operator of Ukraine and JSC Ukrtransgaz conducted stress tests of the gas infrastructure in the context of wartime challenges. The modelling was carried out by a working group consisting of and supported by the USAID Energy Security Project, the Energy Community Secretariat, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the Simone Research Group. According to the expert group, the modelled stress scenarios confirmed the high reliability of Ukraine's gas infrastructure to store and transport gas to foreign customers, even in the face of wartime challenges.