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Kyiv has also presented the European Commission with an alternative action plan to resolve the dispute with the three Central European countries to controlling the export of four groups of agricultural products, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The already approved procedure provides that goods exported to the five neighbouring countries will first receive verification and approval from the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy. In addition, Ukraine will provide information and data on the export of specific agricultural products and information on the country of destination for export.
2.5 Ukraine to get through winter without gas imports for first time ever
Ukraine will get through this winter relying purely on domestically produced natural gas for the first time ever, Oleksiy Chernyshov, CEO of Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas enterprise, Naftogaz said in a TV interview on September 26.
“We are increasing our own gas production, and those numbers are on the rise,” said Chernyshov, as cited by NV.
“Naftogaz drilled a record number of new wells in 2023, and we plan to continue this trend into next year. We expect to get through this winter using Ukrainian-produced gas, and our calculations appear to confirm this possibility.” Ukraine typically produces about 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year and this year has some 14bcm in storage already. That is enough to meet the typical demand of 35bcm a year Ukraine needs.
Chernyshov said the increasing domestic gas production is a result of Naftogaz's record-breaking drilling of new wells in 2023. The company plans to sustain this momentum into the following year, with the confidence that Ukraine will successfully navigate the winter season with gas of its own production.
Chernyshov reassured the public that there would be no disruptions in gas supply during the heating season, which starts in about a month’s time. He also encouraged consumers to take energy-efficient measures in their homes to further enhance energy sustainability.
The government has invested $2.3bn in the restoration and defence of its energy infrastructure ahead of winter to ensure supplies.
Naftogaz also recently celebrated its exit from default status after it failed to meet coupon payments on its bonds last year shortly after the start of the war with Russia. Now it is meeting the conditions for restructuring Eurobond debts set to mature in 2022 and 2026. Chernyshov says that opens doors for Naftogaz to tap the markets for new financing for its capital investment plan.
Regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, Chernyshov clarified
13 UKRAINE Country Report October 2023 www.intellinews.com