According to the basic scenario, at the beginning of the heating season 2026/27 it is planned to accumulate 14.6 billion cubic meters in underground gas storage facilities. m of gas.
This was announced by Minister of Energy Denis Shmyhal after a meeting of the Crisis Committee with the participation of representatives of companies in the fuel and energy sector, informs the portal PromPolitInform.
“At the same time, we understand that we continue to live in conditions of war, when the enemy deliberately attacks, including the gas infrastructure. Obviously, the next winter will take place under the same difficult circumstances as the current one. Therefore, given the situation, the forecast can be adjusted in accordance with the security situation,” he said.
According to Shmyhal, the benchmark remains the experience of previous heating seasons: the presence of natural gas in UGS at least 13.2 billion cubic meters. m of gas at the beginning of the heating season.
“This will allow us to stably pass the winter even under low temperatures and massive attacks. Thus, 13.2 billion cubic meters. m is defined as a critically necessary minimum,” the minister emphasized.
He also noted that for the stable passage of the next autumn-winter period, the key tasks remain:
timely contracting of import supplies of natural gas;
pumping the resource into UGS during the period of the lowest market prices;
diversification of supply routes.
The head of the Ministry of Energy added that NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and the GTS Operator of Ukraine are already working on the issue of booking possible capacities for importing natural gas and continuing the operation of route products of the Vertical Gas Corridor.
The day before it happened that in the autumn-winter period 2025/26 Ukraine entered with gas reserves of 13.2 billion cubic meters. Gas imports amounted to – more than 4.6 billion cubic meters.
He noted that in 2025 Ukrainian gas production amounted to 16.97 billion cubic meters. This is 2.4 billion cubic meters more than predicted. The private sector showed growth of more than 14%.
Photo – Ministry of Energy
