KYIV, March 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to have 15
billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage for the 2023/24
heating season despite Russia's invasion, the head of state
energy firm Naftogaz said.
Ukraine's main natural gas deposits are in eastern areas
affected by the war, but Naftogaz Chief Executive Oleksiy
Chernyshov said Ukraine may potentially be able to get by
without any imports this year.
Ukraine was once one of the main buyers of Russian gas but
has not imported gas directly from Russia since 2015, instead
buying it from the European Union.
"The Naftogaz team is already working on a strategic plan
for the 2023/2024 heating season," Chernyshov said in a column
for media outlet Ukrainska Pravda.
He said there was around 10 bcm of gas in underground
storages and this "allows us to count on sufficient gas reserves
for the end of the heating season."
Ukraine built up storage of around 15 bcm of gas for the
current 2022/23 heating season, and domestic gas consumption has
decreased by at least 40% because of the war, analysts and
officials say.
Chernyshov said eastern Ukraine accounted for more than 80%
of the state's natural gas production, but the country intended
to increase gas production despite hostilities.
"Our goal for this year is an additional 1 bcm. If the total
gas production in Ukraine reaches more than 18.5 bcm, we will be
able to do without imports altogether," he said.
Last month, Chernyshov said natural gas production could
rise by more than 5% this year to 19 bcm.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
pavel.polityuk.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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