Gazprom has boosted its Ukranian gas transit requirements in October, booking additional interstate capacity via auction platforms in Poland and Hungary.

Ukraine’s gas company Naftogaz said the bookings were taken on Sept. 21 through the RBP and GSA platforms. It didn’t disclose the volume of the additional capacity, but said Gazprom will have to pay for this on top of its transit contract with Ukraine.

The parties signed in December 2019 a last-minute gas transit contract for a five-year period. Under the deal, Gazprom booked 65 billion cubic meters per year (Bcm/y) capacity for 2020, and 40 Bcm/y for the remaining of the contract period. The transit is booked on a “ship-or-pay” basis.

“Every additional capacity ordered by Gazprom is additional money for Ukraine and its citizens,” said Naftogaz deputy chairman Serhiy Pereloma. “Ukraine, as a reliable transporter state, will continue to ensure uninterrupted gas transportation for European consumers.”

According to Ukraine’s gas transmission system operator, the country has transited 34.8 Bcm of Russian gas to Europe from January to August this year. This is 80% of Gazprom’s total booked capacity.

source:kallanishenergy.com