On November 1, 2024, Ukraine commenced its natural gas extraction season from its underground storage facilities (USF), according to data from the European Underground Gas Storage Operators Association (GSE).
While there was a slight increase in storage levels on October 30 and 31, the volume decreased by 0.05% on November 1.
The head of "Naftogaz," Alexey Chernyshov, noted on his Facebook page on October 31 that the heating season is actively starting in Ukrainian cities.
He reminded that during the 2023/2024 heating season, Ukraine utilized approximately 6.7 billion cubic meters of gas from its underground storage and expects similar figures for the 2024/2025 season.
As reported, Ukraine entered November 2023 with 16 billion cubic meters in USF. Throughout the 2023/24 heating season, 8.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas were extracted from storage, with Ukraine using 6.7 billion cubic meters. The gas extraction season lasted a total of 145 days.
Ukraine had planned to enter the 2024/25 heating season with at least 13 billion cubic meters of gas in USF. However, low activity in gas injection by non-residents forced "Naftogaz" to purchase gas and store it in Ukraine's USF under the "customs warehouse" (CW) regime.
Chernyshov mentioned in early October in a comment to "Energy Reform" that as of November 1, the company's gas purchases under the CW regime, made as a reserve with the help of a EBRD loan, would amount to approximately 0.5-0.6 billion cubic meters.
According to former Energy Minister Olga Buslavets, as of November 1, 2024, the total reserves in Ukraine's USF amounted to 12.9 billion cubic meters.