Ukraine is facing the coldest winter in recent decades – Naftogaz
Ukrainians are probably in for the coldest winter in recent decades. The Guardian writes about it.
This opinion was expressed by the head of the state gas company Naftogaz Yuriy Vitrenko. He reported that thermostats in centralized heating systems should be turned on later than usual and turned off earlier.
According to him, the temperature in the premises will be set at 17-18°C, which is about four degrees below the norm.
Vitrenko advised people to stock up on blankets and warm clothes in case the temperature outside drops to above the average for winter -10 degrees.
In general, the situation will partly depend on Ukraine’s international allies and whether they will provide the necessary funds for the import of 4 billion cubic meters of gas, as well as whether unforeseen circumstances do not play out – such as the destruction of gas infrastructure by Russia or a further reduction in gas supplies to Europe.
– Without Western financial support, we will not have enough gas, and this will mean that we will have very high risks of failure of the energy system, – said Vitrenko.
He said that Naftogaz supplied gas to some Ukrainian energy companies in March, when the supply of coal was stopped due to the war.
– Otherwise there would be no electricity, – he said. – Without gas imports there will be blackouts in large areas of Ukraine.
Ukraine produces about 60% of the gas it needs domestically, and imports the rest from its neighbors from the European Union at market prices. The country stopped buying gas from Russia in 2014, although it still consumes some of the same Russian gas that comes via pipelines through Ukraine from EU suppliers.
This bypass was designed to prevent Russia from using gas as a tool to influence Ukraine. Gas contracts between Russia and Ukraine have long been a source of massive corruption, with Ukrainian politicians and oligarchs allowing Russia to control the country’s internal affairs in exchange for cheap gas.
Ukraine needs about 10 billion dollars to import gas. Vitrenko said that, in his opinion, the allies understand the need for this money, but he cannot be sure that Ukraine will receive the funds, because “it is very difficult to be sure of something during a war.”
However, current calculations may change if, for example, Russia targets some of Ukraine’s most important gas infrastructure, power plants or gas production facilities. About 50% of Ukraine’s gas fields are located in the Kharkiv region, four miles from the front line. If Ukrainian storage facilities are damaged, Ukraine will have to import more gas.
Another widely discussed risk is that Russia will decide to further cut gas supplies to the EU, leading to even higher gas prices.
Photo: Naftogaz
