Ukraine to increase gas imports by 30% due to Russian strikes, Energy Ministry says
Ukraine will have to increase gas imports by approximately 30% from the previous plan due to large-scale Russian strikes on gas production.
Source: Ukrainian news outlet Liga.net, citing Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk
Quote from Liga.net: "She [Hrynchuk] said that Ukraine has the financial resources to ensure full gas imports in October, November, December and, if necessary, in other months."
Details: Hrynchuk mentioned that Ukraine has secured loans of US$500 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and US$300 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to purchase gas.
Both loans were secured with guarantees from the European Commission.
According to Hrynchuk, Ukraine and G7 ambassadors have discussed the possibility of extending these loans, also with guarantees from the European Commission.
"We are discussing with some countries the provision of [funding] on a grant basis specifically to increase natural gas imports," the minister said.
The total amount of funding for gas imports is not yet known, Hrynchuk stressed. It will depend on the intensity of Russian attacks, the level of damage to the gas transport system and the oil and gas sector as well as the speed of recovery.
She said that Ukraine is working separately with each of its partners in order to "understand who can help us in which area" in purchasing gas.
Background:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia "will do everything to prevent us from extracting our gas", adding that "it will be difficult to protect all of this". However, Ukraine will be ready for all energy challenges, he emphasised.
- On the night of 4-5 October, Russia once again conducted a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine's gas infrastructure.
- Naftogaz Group, Ukraine's largest national oil and gas company, seeks to open additional credit lines in case of the need for urgent imports due to Russian attacks.
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