KYIV. Aug 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine in January-July 2015 reduced gas consumption by 20%, in particular industry by 26%, the population by 20%, heating enterprises by 12%, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn has stated.
“This is the thesis for those who say the reserves are not sufficient,” he said at a briefing in Kyiv.
Given the fact that consumption in January-July 2014 amounted to 26.022 billion cubic meters, consumption in the first seven months of this year amounted to 20.818 billion cubic meters.
The minister said that at present gas reserves are 13.4 billion cubic meters.
“The question is not in stocks but in gas pumping,” Demchyshyn said, emphasizing that confidence in ensuring gas procurement is high enough.
“Stocks should be increased, but there is no critical level… The situation is clear and balanced,” the minister said.
