Oil transit via Ukraine to Europe grew 4.4% year-on-year in January-July 2019, to 53.191 billion tonnes, according to preliminary data from Ukrtransgaz.
According to calculations made by Interfax-Ukraine, transit of gas to Europe totaled 51.512 billion cubic meters (an increase of 4.6%), and transit to Moldova came to 1.679 billion cubic meters (down by 0.8%).
In July, gas transit decreased 4.1%, to 8.112 bcm. Transit to Europe fell by 4.3%, to 7.948 billion cubic meters and to Moldova rose by 8%, to 163.9 mcm.
In 2018, gas transit decreased by 7.1%, to 86.779 bcm. Transit to Europe fell 7.6% to 83.839 billion cubic meters; transit to Moldova rose 8.6% to 2.94 bcm.
Ukraine pumped 2.306 bcm into its underground gas storage facilities in July, the highest figure for any month in the last four years, according to preliminary data from Ukrtransgaz.
As of July 31, 2019, the country’s stocks totaled 15.85 bcm, which is 3 bcm more than a year before.
If maintained, this tempo will allow Ukraine to reach its goal of starting the next heating season with 20 bcm in underground storage.
Shebelynka gas processing plant in Kharkiv region in January-June 2019 increased processing of crude oil by 7.6% (17,400 tonnes), compared to the same period in 2018, to 246,900 tonnes.
The Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry told Interfax-Ukraine that in June 2019 processing at the plant amounted to 40,300 tonnes, which is 6.1% (2,600 tonnes) more than in the same month last year.
For the six months, the plant increased production of petrol by 37.3% (by 21,800 tonnes), to 80,300 tonnes, fuel oil by 5.4% (by 2,300 tonnes), to 45,200 tonnes, but reduced diesel fuel by 27.2% (by 3,700 tonnes), to 17,300 tonnes.
The loading of the plant’s capacity through the aforementioned period of 2019 was 49.4% against 45.9% in 2018.
Ukrgazvydobuvannia, 100% owned by Naftogaz Ukrainy, is Ukraine’s largest gas producer, which provides about 75% of the total gas output in the country.
Ukrgazvydobuvannia operates Shebelynka gas refinery, Yablunivske department to process gas, Bazylivschyna condensate stabilization unit, and 19 filling stations in Kharkiv region. The latter sells fuel and liquefied gas of its own production.
Ukraine is utilizing 100% of its existing capacity for importing natural gas, Serhiy Makohon, the head of Gas Transportation System Operator of Ukraine, has said.
“The day has come! Imports of gas reached 66.3 million cubic meters, which represents 100% of our technical capacity. A landmark event,” Makohon wrote on Facebook.
The GTS’ throughput capacity on Ukraine’s border is 42.5 mcm/day from Slovakia, 19.5 mcm/day from Hungary, and 4.3 mcm/day from Poland.
Ukraine is planning to start the 2019/2020 heating season with 20 billion cubic meters of gas in its underground storage facilities, as it fears that Russia’s Gazprom will stop transporting gas through its territory after this year.
As of the morning of July 20, some 15.018 bcm was in underground storage, CEO of Naftogaz Ukrainy Andriy Kobolev said on Facebook earlier on Monday.
Between July 1 and July 20, some 1.473 bcm was pumped in, or 73.7 mcm per day. In June, 71.9 mcm/day was pumped in, and 62.9 mcm/day in May.
Russia’s Gazprom has boosted gas transit to the European Union through the territory of Ukraine by 25%, by 60 million cubic meters per day, JSC Ukrtransgaz has reported.
This is related to a halt for repairing two lines of Nord Stream.
Ukraine from April 4 to July 13, 2019, increased its natural gas reserves in underground storage facilities (USF) by 66%, or 5.768 billion cubic meters (bcm), to 14.514 bcm, according to JSC Ukrtransgaz.
According to the calculations of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, this volume exceeds the stocks reported on July 13, 2018, by 22.2% and on July 13, 2017, by 18.9%.
The country’s gas reserves on July 1-13 increased by 969.38 million cubic meters (mcm), which was 74.6 mcm daily on the average, whereas it was 71.9 mcm per day in June, 62.9 mcm per day in May.
Ukraine’s gas reserves in the USFs on July 13, 2019, increased by 69.62 million cubic meters (mcm) when imports totaled 61.93 mcm and domestic production was 54.83 mcm.
