Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in Bucharest.
“In terms of bilateral trade, Romania ranks third among European countries for Ukraine. In Bucharest, we discussed with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu how we can develop trade potential that is beneficial for both our countries. Particular attention was paid to the development of the Danube ports and Black Sea trade routes. We hope that expert consultations and joint work will make it possible to abandon restrictive measures on the export of Ukrainian grain after September 15. This is important for our economy and global food security,” Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel.
Also, according to the prime minister, Ukraine offered Romania to implement a pilot project of joint border and customs control at one of the border crossing points.
“We also invite Romanian companies to use Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities, the largest on the continent. We discussed the potential for cooperation in the commercial supply of electricity between our state-owned companies,” Shmyhal wrote.
JSC Ukrtransgaz, acting as the operator of UGS facilities in Ukraine, has begun preparations for certification for the use of the capacities of its UGS facilities by EU countries, the press service of the company reported on Friday.
“Ukrtransgaz has already begun preparations for passing the independent EU certification introduced for gas storage operators. The company is confident of its successful completion,” it said.
Ukraine, as a member of the Energy Community, is ready to offer up to 10 billion cubic meters of its capacity for gas storage by EU countries.
“There is a corresponding positive and comprehensive experience of cooperation with foreign customers of services. They have already had the opportunity to be convinced of the reliability of gas storage in Ukraine, and they continue to store it today in our facilities,” the press service noted.
In turn, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) in the course of a joint presentation with Ukrtransgaz at a meeting of the South-East European Gas (SEEGAS) Initiative emphasized that the gas transportation infrastructure and UGS facilities of Ukraine can become the basis for strengthening European and regional energy security already on the eve of the next winter.
According to Olha Belkova, the director for relations with government agencies and international organizations at the GTSOU, in order to further strengthen the energy security of the region of Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and partners from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova face the task of strengthening cooperation with countries such as Lithuania, Turkey, Greece and transatlantic partners.
She informed about the interest of Ukrainian traders in gaining access to LNG facilities in Europe. To transport gas to Ukraine from the Lithuanian and Polish LNG terminals, it is necessary to increase the guaranteed capacities on a long-term basis. There is also considerable interest in potential gas supplies from Greece and Turkey via the Trans-Balkan pipeline.
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy has funds for the purchase and subsequent injection of natural gas into underground gas storage facilities (UGS), Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko has said.
“Naftogaz has been provided with the appropriate financial resources to continue accumulating gas further,” he said during a government meeting.
Earlier, the Ministry of Energy said that Ukraine plans to start the heating season 2021/2022 with 19.2 billion cubic meters in UGS.
According to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, Naftogaz will receive funds from Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine under the compensation agreement with Ukrtransgaz, recommended by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for signing in accordance with resolution No. 1187-r dated September 29, 2021.
Reserves of natural gas in Ukraine’s underground gas storage facilities (UGS) as of August 21 had reached 17.4 billion cubic meters (bcm), which is the highest figure on this date since 2012.
According to the press service of Ukrtransgaz, the high pace of the current year has already led to the fulfillment of planned volumes for injection at four underground storage facilities (Solokhovske, Krasnopartyzanske, Proletarske, Krasnopopivske).
Currently, gas injection continues at Bilche-Volytsko-Uherske, Uherske, Dashavske, Bohorodchanske, Oparske and Kehychivske underground gas storage facilities, where the average daily pumping is about 75 million cubic meters.
According to Ukrtransgaz, at the same time, more than 270 companies today use the services of the company to store gas in underground gas storage facilities both in a common mode and in a customs warehouse mode. Compared to last year, the number of such companies rose by 40%.
GAS, STOCKS, UGS, UKRTRANSGAZ
