Gas TSO of Ukraine reduced gas transportation to EU by 38% in 2020

Gas Transmission System Operator (TSO) of Ukraine LLC transported 55.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Europe in 2020, which is 38% less than in 2019, according to the company’s press service.

"In 2020, Gas TSO of Ukraine transported 55.8 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe (-38% compared to 2019). The volume of gas transportation from Europe to Ukraine for the same period amounted to 15.9 billion cubic meters (+ 12% compared to 2019),” reads the report.

The company notes that the key factors in reducing the volumes of gas transit to Europe are the launch of new gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine, as well as the decrease in demand for natural gas in the EU and significant gas reserves in European underground storage facilities.

The transit in the western direction totalled 51.9 bcm of gas (-32%). In particular, gas transit to Poland reached 3.8 bcm, to Slovakia - 38.5 bcm, and to Hungary - 9.6 bcm.  In the southern direction, the transit amounted to 3.9 bcm (-70%), including 0.9 bcm of gas transported to Romania and 3.0 bcm to Moldova.

Gas transportation from Europe to Ukraine at the request of customers of Gas TSO amounted to 15.9 bcm, which is 12% higher than in 2019 and 27% higher than the average volume registered during the corresponding periods in 2016-2018.

“In 2020, imports from Slovakia amounted to 10.2 bcm (+ 11% compared to the same period last year), from Hungary - almost 4.2 bcm (+ 14%), from Poland - almost 1.5 bcm (+ 3%). In particular, 45% was imported through the virtual reverse (backhaul), which first became available in early 2020,” reads the report.

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