The Ukrainian gas transmission system is capable of removing obstacles between the markets of Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Balkans, improving their interconnection and strengthening the security of supply in Europe. This was emphasized by Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of Gas TSO of Ukraine, during his speech at The 19-th EnergyCommunity Gas Forum.

Despite new regulations and measures implemented by the European Union and national governments which are assisting in reducing the negative impact of energy crises on consumers, the markets of CEE countries remain vulnerable due to insufficient integration with the gas transmission systems of neighboring countries.

“Bottlenecks between systems prevent the natural gas delivery and make the CEE market vulnerable to price risks. Connecting Ukraine to the Vertical Corridor initiative under the coordination of the Ministry of Energy and commissioning the Trans-Balkan Corridor in reverse mode is a way in which the Ukrainian GTS can the connection between markets and strengthen gas supply security and sustainability in Europe,” said Dmytro Lyppa.

In addition, he noted that Gas TSO of Ukraine together with the adjacent TSO Vestmoldtransgaz (Moldova) has created a new firm route from the Balkans with an yearly of about 0.4 billion cubic meters, which has been available available and in use since September 1, 2024. Commencing from April 2025, the TSOs plan to increase these capacities to more than 2.5 billion cubic meters per year. At the same time, the network users will not only get a new route, but also access to reliable Ukrainian gas infrastructure (gas transmission and storage) at competitive rates.

“We comprehend that the gas market conditions are changing and we must adjust accordingly. Gas TSO of Ukraine is working diligently on developing new routes to maximize the potential of Ukrainian infrastructure, enhancing its flexibility and maneuverability,” concluded Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of Gas TSO of Ukraine.