The Ukrainian authorities guarantee citizens a stable heating season. The country has enough gas reserves, and the government continues to work on the coal accumulation, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted during the broadcast of the program Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech).
The official blamed the actions of Russia for the fact that the gas price increased, in particular, the fight that the country is waging for the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
But today we understand that coal is coming to Ukraine by sea, that we are increasing the production of Ukrainian mines. It has already increased by 28% and continues to grow... Today we see that monthly, with a need of 1.7—1.9 million tons, we provide 2—2.3 tons of coal. That is, the process of coal accumulation will be and is already taking place in the last month.
Denys Shmyhal
The Prime Minister of Ukraine
Shmyhal stressed that the government realistically assesses the likely risks, including both weather conditions and hybrid actions on the part of the Russian Federation. However, the Prime Minister specified that these risks accompany each heating season in Ukraine and the authorities, together with the Ministry of Energy, know how to respond to them.
Context. Earlier it was reported that as of September 1, 18.16 billion cubic meters of gas were accumulated in the underground gas storage facilities. This amount will be enough for a stable heating season, even if the TPPs may be switched from coal to gas due to the lack of coal in the warehouses.
As of December 14, 459,000 tons of coal were stored in the warehouses of Ukrainian TPPs. This is half the guaranteed reserves. However, the situation is somewhat better than it was last month. In October—November, coal reserves in the TPPs' warehouses amounted to approximately 300,000 tons.
In general, it should be said that we have absolutely sufficient gas reserves. On average, more gas has been accumulated than from 2014 to 2019. As for the coal reserves, one needs to look at the context of the global energy crisis, when there is not enough coal for anyone, and gas prices are $1,500—1,700. There have never been such prices.
Denys Shmyhal
The Prime Minister of Ukraine
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