Ukraine plans to open storage facilities for strategic gas reserves of EU countries: certification is being prepared

This was reported by the press service of Naftogaz Ukraine on Telegram.

“We are talking about the opportunity to maximally load the PSG network, increase profits and income from gas storage of EU states and members of the Energy Community. Certification will be a powerful reputation boost, an additional argument in commercial business negotiations. It will confirm the effectiveness of the European integration processes in Ukraine and our membership in the gas market of Europe,” the head of Ukrtransgaz, Serhii Pereloma, said. 

In addition, it is reported that successful certification will allow the strategic gas reserves of the EU countries to be stored in Ukrainian PSGs, maximize the use of the gas storage network, and also increase revenue from the provision of underground storage services.

The certification process will involve several key stages. The first one is the formation of the relevant legislative framework, which has already begun. At the end of October, the Council registered a draft law (No.8158), which implements into Ukrainian legislation the norms regarding the certification of gas storage operators, introduced by the EU in July 2022.

The document also defines the general principles of such certification and specifies the powers of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Energy and Utilities Sectors. After accepting the document, the regulator must detail the certification procedure, and Ukrtransgaz must officially provide all documents necessary for its completion.

Based on the results of the analysis and relevant conclusions from the National Commission for State Regulation in the Energy and Utilities and the Secretariat of the Energy Community, a decision will be made regarding the certification of Ukrtransgaz as an underground gas storage operator according to EU standards.