“The situation is aggravated by the fact that they have problems not only with a shortage of gas, but this year they have a problem with a shortage of coal.
They are now scraping the bottom of the barrel around the world ... They are trying to replace coal-fired generation with gas.
And even more gas is consumed than usual, there is an intensive volume from underground storage facilities, ”the expert explained.
He also added that the situation is complicated by the fact that not all of the gas pumped into underground storage facilities is intended directly for Ukraine.
“Part of the gas will either have to be bought at ultra-high prices from European traders who own this gas, so there is still no guarantee that you will be sold at all,” the specialist said.
The analyst suggested that the Ukrainian authorities would either “disconnect consumers” or try to “take gas from transit”, as previously stated by the ex-head of Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolev.
Earlier, the company "Ukrtransgaz" announced that at the moment the reserves of natural gas in underground storage facilities in Ukraine are 43.44% less than a year earlier at the same time.
It is specified that as of January 8, Ukraine's UGS facility contains 13.02 billion cubic meters.
m of gas.