Ukraine is preparing for a new heating season without importing gas.

In case of war complications, the necessary volumes will be able to be bought quickly, said Oleksiy Chernyshov, head of Naftogaz of Ukraine. He added this year, the amount of Ukrainian gas will be enough to get through the 2023-2024 heating season without imports because the state company plans to extract 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas, which is enough to cover the country’s demand. Moreover, the state also relies on private miners who can cover any shortage.

At the same time, the head of the Naftogaz is mindful of military risks. According to Chernyshov, Naftogaz joined the Aggregate EU joint gas procurement platform.

“If there is not enough fuel in the event of a negative development of events, we will be able to order the volumes we need quickly,” explained Chernyshov. He added that it would be necessary only because of the war’s impact.

According to several studies, Ukraine ranks second in Europe regarding confirmed gas reserves.