Ukraine has discussed with G7 countries additional natural gas imports as it seeks to boost imports by 30% to offset the damage from Russian strikes on its gas infrastructure, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said on Tuesday.
In recent weeks, Russian strikes have caused “significant” damage to the gas production capacity of Ukraine, the minister told reporters during a briefing in Kyiv, without providing details.
On Monday, Grynchuk wrote on Facebook that Ukraine continues to communicate with partners on strengthening its energy sector on the eve of winter.
“Ukraine’s immediate needs for equipment and resources for quick repairs after Russian attacks and possible additional support mechanisms were discussed today at the meeting of the Leaders of the G7+ group,” the minister said.
“In this year, the enemy has changed tactics, but not intentions. Russia is purposefully hitting the energy facilities of the frontline regions, in an attempt to plunge the territories into complete darkness and cold. Among the enemy’s targets is Ukrainian gas infrastructure,” Grynchuk wrote.
Ukraine’s state energy firm Naftogaz said this weekend that Russia launched another massive attack on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure. The targets were civilian facilities that supply Ukrainians with gas during the heating season.
Last week, Naftogaz said that Russian forces launched on October 3 the largest strike on Naftogaz Group’s gas production facilities since the start of the full-scale invasion in early 2022.
“It was yet another display of Russian malice, aimed solely at disrupting the heating season and depriving Ukrainians of the ability to heat their homes this winter,” Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi said.
“As a result of this attack, a significant portion of our facilities has been damaged. Some of the destruction is critical,” Koretskyi added.
Amid colder temperatures and lower domestic gas supply, Ukraine is now looking to import more gas, including LNG, minister Grynchuk said today.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com