Ukraine has accumulated significant reserves of natural gas in its underground gas storage facilities and coal in the warehouses of thermal power plants, which will allow passing this winter even in case of interruption in gas transit from January 1, 2020, Minister of Energy and Environment Protection of Ukraine Oleksiy Orzhel has said.
“This means that Ukraine this winter, even without transit, will not be cold,” he said on the air of ICTV Channel.
According to him, traditionally the greatest risks may arise in February-March, when stocks in underground gas storages become smaller. At the same time, stress tests conducted by the GTS operator indicate that even on the peak days of maximum consumption, the country will be able to satisfy the gas demand of Ukrainian consumers.
Orzhel also said that the government is developing mechanisms to prevent a sharp increase in gas prices in winter for consumers in the country.
As reported, as of November 16, 2019 Ukraine has 21.530 billion cubic meters in underground gas storage facilities, which exceeds the November 16, 2018 reserves by 27.1%, those on November 16, 2017 by 29.3%, and November 16, 2016 by 52.5%.
Coal reserves in the warehouses of thermal power plants of energy generating companies of Ukraine amount to 2.243 million tonnes, which is 33.6% more than last year’s reserves.
Ukraine in January-October 2019 reduced import of coal and anthracite (foreign trade code 2701) by 0.6% (by 100,450 tonnes) compared to the same period in 2018, to 17.325 million tonnes. According to the State Fiscal Service, coal was imported for $2.365 billion, which is 3.9% less than in January-October 2018.
At the same time, coal worth $1.382 billion (the share in imports is 58.44%) was received from Russia, while the United States supplied coal for $727.602 million (30.77%), Kazakhstan for $106.989 million (4.52%), and other countries for $148.358 million (6.27%).
In addition, Ukraine for the first ten months of 2019 exported 13,318 tonnes of coal and anthracite worth $527,000, in particular to Moldova for $395,000, to Hungary for $100,000, and Poland for $32,000.
Coal reserves in the warehouses of thermal power plants (TPP) of energy generating companies in Ukraine increased by 8.2% (by 106,200 tonnes) from October 15 to October 21, to 1.391 million tonnes, which is 14% (228,100 tonnes) less than last year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Environment Protection.
According to the calculations of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, reserves of anthracite in the warehouses of thermal power plants amounted to 340,300 tonnes, which is 11.5% more than a week ago, and almost twice as much as a year earlier (173,400 tonnes). At the same time, gas coal reserves at thermal power plants’ warehouses amount to 1.051 million tonnes, which is 7.2% (71,000 tonnes) more than last week, and 27.3% (395,200 tonnes) less than last year.
Coal reserves (anthracite and gas) in the warehouses of combined heat and power plants for the week rose by 7.5% (by 12,400 tonnes), to 176,500 tonnes, which is 26.1% (62,500 tonnes) less than on October 22, 2018.
As reported, the consumption of energy grades of coal by TPPs and combined heat and power plants in the country in 2018 increased by 5.7% (by 1.409 million tonnes) compared to 2017, to 26.22 million tonnes.
COAL, STOCKS, TPP, WAREHOUSES
Ukraine in January-September 2019 reduced import of coal and anthracite (foreign trade code 2701) by 4.4% (by 689,521 tonnes) compared to the same period in 2018, to 14.951 million tonnes.
According to the State Fiscal Service, coal was imported for $2.089 billion, which is 4.7% less than in January-September 2018.
At the same time, coal worth $1.218 billion (the share in imports is 58.27%) was received from Russia, while the United States supplied coal for $667.294 million (31.94%), Kazakhstan for $94.992 million (4.55%), and other countries for $109.626 million (5.25%).
In addition, Ukraine for the first nine months of 2019 exported 13,157 tonnes of coal and anthracite worth $508,000, in particular to Moldova for $380,000, to Hungary for $96,000, and Poland for $32,000.
Coal reserves in the warehouses of thermal power plants (TPP) of Ukraine’s energy generating companies as of September 23, 2019, totaled 1.072 million tonnes, which was 55.7% (383,700 tonnes) more than in early September, but 36.9% (626,000 tonnes) down year–over–year, according to the Energy and Environment Protection Ministry.
Interfax-Ukraine’s estimates show that since the start of autumn, anthracite coal reserves in thermal power plants’ warehouses have increased by 12.3%, or by 29,200 tonnes, to 265,800 tonnes (31.1%, or 63,100 tonnes up year-over–year). Gas coal reserves for the reporting period have grown by 78.4%, or 354,400 tonnes, to 806,200 tonnes (46%, 689,100 tonnes, down year-over-year.
Anthracite and gas coal reserves in the warehouses of cogeneration plants (CHPP) from the beginning of the month have increased by 2.4%, or 33,100 tonnes, to 131,400 tonnes. However, this is 54.1%, or 155,000 tonnes, down on last year’s reserves.
As reported, consumption of thermal coal by Ukraine’s TPPs and CHPPs in 2018 grew by 5.7%, or 1.409 million tonnes, compared to 2017, to 26.22 million tonnes.
DTEK Group through January-June 2019 reduced coal imports by 33.6% (501,400 tonnes) compared to the same period last year, to 991,300 tonnes, according to a press release from the company.
In the first half of the year, DTEK enterprises decreased production of coal by 2.5% compared to the same period of 2018, to 12.571 million tonnes.
In particular, the production of G and DG grade coal (Ukraine) for the first sixth months of 2019 decreased by 0.9%, to 11.325 million tonnes. Production of A grade coal by Obukhovskaya mine (the Russian Federation) for this period decreased by 14.8%, to 1.246 million tonnes.
Concentrate output fell by 5.5%, to 5.485 million tonnes. In particular, output at third-party processing plants in Ukraine fell by 85.2%, to 72,200 tonnes, while at Obukhovskaya mine fell by 6.7%, to 847,300 tonnes.
