Gas transit through Ukraine down 19% in Oct - GTSOU

The transit of natural gas through Ukraine's gas transmission system to European countries amounted to 2.634 billion cubic meters in October 2021, which was 623 million cubic meters less than in September 2021, the press service of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) has said.

According to the report, gas transit to Slovakia over this period grew by 6% (to 2.117 billion cubic meters) compared to September. Some 342 million cubic meters of gas were transported via Ukraine to Poland and 176 million cubic meters to Moldova.

All gas transit supplies from Russia to European countries not only did not exceed the booked annual capacity, but on the contrary, they decreased. The average daily volume of Russian gas transported through Ukraine in October decreased to 86 million cubic meters, which is below the minimum volume, according to the current transit agreement.

"We are concerned about a reduction in Russian gas transit through the Ukrainian route. From October 1, pumping volumes were below the booked capacity. The total use of Ukrainian GTS capacities for the transit of Russian gas continues to decline. As of early November, it was an average of 60 million cubic meters per day," said Sergiy Makogon, Director General of GTSOU.

In the first ten months of 2021, natural gas transit through Ukraine amounted to 35.3 billion cubic meters. In total, 22.430 billion cubic meters of gas was supplied to Slovakia, 6.799 billion cubic meters to Hungary, 3.227 billion cubic meters to Poland, 2.439 billion cubic meters to Moldova, and 0.394 billion cubic meters to Romania.

The current gas transit contract between Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom was concluded at the end of 2019 for a period of five years. It provides for Gazprom booking transit capacities in the amount of 65 billion cubic meters (178 million cubic meters per day) in 2020 and 40 billion cubic meters (110 million cubic meters per day) each year in 2021-2024.

op