KIEV, October 15. /TASS/. Ukraine will accumulate around 16.5 bln cubic meters of natural gas by November 1, which is 0.5 bln cubic meters less than planned earlier, Deputy Minister of cabinet Vadim Glamazdin said on Thursday.
"We can reach 16.5 (billion cubic meters — TASS), it’s not a dramatic underrun and may be caught up in future," he said.
According to the head of Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Andrey Kobolev, the country currently has 16 bln cubic meters of gas in its underground storage facilities.
"As of today gas reserves stored in underground facilities equal to 16 bln cubic meters. There’s been a dramatic surge of gas pumping rate, which now stands at 125 mln cubic meters per day, with 114 mln supplied from Russia and the remaining volume — from the EU," he said.
"We import gas from the EU through all three routes, with Slovakia being the most active one. Besides, we import (gas) from Hungary and Poland," Kobolev said.
Ukraine has imported 9 bln cubic meters of gas from the EU and 3.8 bln — from Russia year-to-date, CEO said.
"After we reached an agreement with Gazprom on $227.36 price we started pumping gas at maximum rate stipulated by the contract. By the end of the month gas reserves will be over 17 bln cubic meters, which will exceed last year’s results and will allow comfortable passing the heating season," Kobolev said.
Gazprom fully meets Kiev’s request for gas supplies
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom fully meets Kiev’s request for gas supplies, Kobolev added.
"Naftogaz sent $234 mln of prepayment to Gazprom and Gazprom meets its commitments in full scope and provides 114 mln cubic meters a day, which is the maximal offtake level under the contract," Kobolev said.
Ukraine’s underground gas storages are expected to accumulate over 17 bln cubic meters of gas by the end of the month, Kobolev concluded.