Ukraine extends the deadline for gas accumulation in its underground storage facilities by two weeks to November 1 from October 15 as it seeks to collect more gas, according to a government resolution published Friday.
The government last week set a new target to accumulate 17 Bcm of gas by the start of the high-demand season.
The resolution urges the energy and coal industry ministry, the finance ministry, the economy ministry and Naftogaz Ukrayiny to draft and approve by September 15 a new gas accumulation schedule.
The new forecast suggests that Ukraine will have to accelerate imports of gas within weeks, and perhaps to resume imports of Russian gas to meet the target.
Ukraine since November 2015 has been importing European gas only, but throughput capacity of these pipelines will probably not be enough to boost reserves to 17 Bcm by November 1.
Ukraine had 12.56 Bcm of gas in its underground storage facilities as of September 1, according to Naftogaz.
Taking into account imports from Europe and domestic gas output, Ukraine will be able to store up to 16.5 Bcm by November 1. This means that Ukraine may need to import at least 500 million cu m of gas from Russia by November 1 to meet the target.
