Natural gas stocks in Ukraine`s underground gas storage facilities shrank by 3.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) in January-March 2017, which was 1.6 bcm down year-over-year, according to state-run Ukrtransgaz, the gas transport system operator.
In total, Ukraine pumped 6.7 bcm out of underground storage during the heating season, which started on October 12, 2016, and ended on April 1, 2017, Ukrtransgaz`s press service said.
Earlier, gas stocks in Ukraine`s underground storage facilities were 8.225 bcm as of April 1, 2017.
The Ukrainian government in September 2016 approved a schedule for preparations for the heating season. It also determined the volume of fuel reserves to provide heat and electricity to consumers. Ukraine`s 2016-2017 heating season started when Ukraine had 14.7 bcm of gas in stock.
On March 13, Ukrtransgaz reported that Ukraine had stopped pumping gas from the underground storage facilities and began replenishing the stocks at a rate of 4.5 million cubic meters of gas per day.
