In Ukraine, Europe's largest gas storage facilities are under Russian attack. Putin's attacks not only threaten Ukraine's energy supply.
Kiev – Ukraine has the largest gas storage facilities in Europe. In Putin's war, this part of the Ukrainian infrastructure also appears to have become a target. Recent Russian attacks caused more lasting destruction to Ukraine's energy system than was previously the case,
Politico
reports . The damage is immense and the long repair times will not only have consequences for Ukraine. European energy supplies could also be affected in the future.
In order to be able to supply the EU states with sufficient energy and avoid an energy crisis, last winter the states relied, among other things, on the underground Ukrainian gas storage facilities. “Ukraine plays a key role in the security of Central and Eastern Europe’s gas supplies this winter,” said Natasha Fielding, head of European gas pricing at
Argus Media
price reporting agency, according to
the Financial Times
in January 2024. This key role appears to be under threat from Putin’s attacks.
The damage caused by recent Russian attacks could take years to repair,
Politico
reports . As a result, Russia recently shelled two sites connected to the underground natural gas storage facility during the Ukraine war.
Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy grid: threat to Europe
Last winter, European energy suppliers are said to have stored billions of cubic meters of fuel in Ukraine in the event of acute shortages. The focus was particularly on storing excess gas. Otherwise, European traders would have had to sell the gas at a cost of up to two billion euros, reports
Politico
. Now the question remains about alternative plans from the EU states for the coming winter.
Energy companies from Germany, Norway and France plan to store gas in Ukraine
The attacks highlight the potential risk for Ukrainian gas storage facilities and European countries if their gas storage capacities are exhausted in the summer, writes the
Bloomberg
news portal . The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz recently held talks with the German RWE AG, the Norwegian Equinor ASA and the French TotalEnergies SE and Engie SA about storing gas in the Ukrainian storage facilities.
According to the Ukrainian company, Ukraine will offer traders up to 10 billion cubic meters of its natural gas storage capacity in 2024,
Bloomberg
reports . In the past, the deal has helped European traders and energy companies keep gas prices low and make it easier to replenish their own inventories, the
Financial Times
reported .
Gas expert on storage in Ukraine: “Ukraine saved Europe’s ass”
Poland is said to have received most of the gas from the Ukrainian storage facilities. The country used more than half of the gas extracted from Ukrainian deposits. The rest went to Moldova, Slovakia and Hungary.
Gas expert at commodity information company ICIS, Aura Sabadus, told
Politico
: “Ukraine saved Europe’s ass.” Gas was stored from countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, among others. Sabadus called the fact that Ukraine is said to have stored most of the gas from states “that oppose aid deliveries to Ukraine” “a tragedy.”
Due to the massive Russian attacks and in order to avert the impending crisis for the Ukrainian energy supply and thus the people in the country, Volodymyr Zelensky has been appealing to his Western allies for weeks. The Ukrainian president repeatedly called on states to supply more weapons to defend against Russian air strikes.
(pav)