Ukraine has to start urgent gas imports, says ex-head of transit operator
Daily gas production cannot cover all of Ukraine's requirements in the cold season and the country pumps gas into storage during the summer months for use in winter.
"Our storage facilities are gradually but surely approaching the level of 10% fullness," Makogon said, adding that this would reduce possible withdrawals to 60 million cubic meters (mcm) per day.
As gas in storage is pressurised, lower levels mean less can be extracted on a daily basis.
"This will mean that we will not be able to meet gas demand through production and underground gas facilities, and we will need to import gas on an emergency basis," he said.
Storage facilities were approximately 20% full a year ago and 22-23% full at the same point in 2023, he noted.
Makogon said current daily gas consumption is about 110 mcm, covered by 52 mcm of production and 58 mcm from storage.
He noted that with frosts, consumption could rise as far as 150 mcm, a jump that could not be covered from reserves, meaning imports would be required "in significant volumes and at any price".
The gas storage operator, which is part of the state-owned Naftogaz oil and gas firm, did not respond to a request for comment.
Ukraine has stopped reporting the volume of gas in storage facilities, which have been the target of regular Russian missile attacks.
Data from the gas transmission operator shows Ukraine is importing small amounts of gas from Hungary.
Russian gas flows to Europe via Ukraine ended at the start of the year after Kyiv refused to extend a transit agreement with Moscow to reduce revenue streams supporting its war in Ukraine.
Industry sources have previously said that Ukraine needs to import about 100 mcm of gas per month during winter to maintain its system after the shutdown of the Russian transit.
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