Ukraine plans to survive winter on domestically produced gas – PM Shmyhal

He made this announcement at a press conference on September 10, reported by Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko.

According to Shmyhal, in the first seven months of 2024, Naftogaz, an enterprise of the country's fuel and energy complex, produced 8.6 billion cubic meters of gas, marking a 7% increase from last year.

“This winter, we plan to rely on our own gas production again. Last year, we made it through without external assistance, without buying any additional gas,” the prime minister said.

However, he acknowledged that energy security remains one of the nation's most significant challenges. He noted that while Ukraine has successfully navigated three heating seasons already, this upcoming winter “will be just as tough, if not the hardest.”

“We constantly collaborate with our international partners, sourcing equipment from across the globe. We're decentralizing our energy systems while also restoring those facilities that are repairable,” Shmyhal added.

He also reminded the public that the government launched several programs to support citizens, businesses, and condominiums in energy recovery efforts, including grants and soft loans. Furthermore, Ukraine has introduced tax breaks for importing energy-related equipment.

• Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko commented that Ukraine should make it through the winter in a stable condition, barring any new major attacks on the energy infrastructure by Russia.