Will gas be shut off on schedule? Ukrainians warned about new restrictions
Ukraine is already used to power outages, so the issue of gas supply for the winter is becoming increasingly urgent. People are interested in whether there will be enough gas reserves, whether there will be financial opportunities for its purchase, and whether restrictions on supply are possible.
According to MP Serhiy Nagornyak, the main problem is not a shortage of resources, but finances. There is gas in Europe in the necessary volumes, and technically Ukraine can import it. However, the question arises whether there will be funds for the purchase and injection of gas into underground storage facilities.
The situation is familiar from the previous year, when NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine constantly sought financing – loans and international assistance. Grants from European countries played an important role, and this year the situation may repeat itself.
As for prices, gas is much more expensive on the European market than in Ukraine. Domestic production partially helps to reduce the problem, but is constantly threatened by attacks on infrastructure.
As for security, gas storage facilities remain relatively protected due to their location at considerable depth. Even direct missile hits do not always lead to explosions. At the same time, ground infrastructure is more vulnerable, although its damage has not led to a complete cessation of gas supply before.
The issue of possible gas outages, like electricity, is not being considered at the moment. The state will make efforts to accumulate the necessary resource and go through the heating season without restrictions.
However, there are risks, in particular, point problems due to strikes on gas pumping stations in certain regions.
Experts also draw attention to the situation with heat and power utilities. The state is no longer able to subsidize enterprises with cheap gas, as it did before, so some solutions that worked in the conditions of previous energy crises are gradually being canceled.
