Official: Gazprom raises gas transit request for Ukraine

KIEV, Oct 18 (PRIME) -- Russian gas giant Gazprom has increased its transit request through Ukraine to 277 million cubic meters daily, Maxim Belyavsky, spokesman for gas pipeline system operator Ukrtransgaz, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“A daily order for transit of 277 million cubic meters has arrived from Gazprom today. As far as I remember, this is the highest order over the last year at least,” Belyavsky said.

Belyavsky said on October 16 that Ukraine suspended pumping natural gas in its underground storages although they were only 48% full. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak then warned that the stored amount is not enough to ensure a smooth passing of the winter, and the Ukrainians could start using transit gas.

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