Ukraine’s gas crisis calls for decisive action, says Oleksandr Kharchenko

While Ukraine currently has sufficient domestic electricity generation, the situation with natural gas reserves is increasingly alarming. Storage levels are at a historic low, and the country needs to import approximately 4 to 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas to make it through the upcoming heating season, roughly 40 percent of the total volume it aims to accumulate.

This assessment was shared by Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Industry Research Center. 

“At the moment, we have enough of our own generation. The real concern lies in what comes next. Strategically, the major challenge is the volume of gas,” Kharchenko stated. “It’s no secret that a considerable amount of gas was used last year to generate electricity. And now, with gas storage at historically low levels, we need to import 4 to 4.5 billion cubic meters. Frankly, that’s about 40 percent of the target volume, so the impact is substantial.”

Kharchenko noted that Ukraine currently lacks the financial means to procure this amount of gas, and the source of funding remains uncertain.

“We don’t have the money for this, and it’s unclear where it will come from. The president has already raised the issue, it’s being discussed at the highest level, and it’s encouraging that this dialogue is happening. But up to now, those discussions haven’t brought us any closer to a solution. I don’t see any concrete actions from the government or Naftogaz aimed at delivering real results,” he stressed.

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