Russia sees risks for gas transit through Ukraine this winter

MOSCOW, Nov 10 (PRIME) -- Russia sees risks for transit of its natural gas through Ukraine this winter as the gas it has stored will not be enough, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Thursday.

“We see risks because they haven’t stored enough gas in underground facilities, while the air temperature right now is significantly lower than average annual figures,” he said.

According to Ukraine’s gas transportation system operator Ukrtransgaz, the volume of gas in Ukarinian underground storage facilities contracted by 0.11% on Monday to 14.326 billion cubic meters.

On October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is concerned about the low volume of gas in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities, and that gas giant Gazprom is ready to restart gas exports to the country in any time at a price of U.S. $180 per 1,000 cubic meters under prepayment. He also said that Ukraine should have 17–21 billion cubic meters of gas stored to pass the winter smoothly.

End