On February 20-22, a delegation of the GTS Operator of Ukraine led by its General Director Dmytro Lyppa took part in the annual trade fair “E-World Energy & Water” that was held in Essen, Germany.

During the event, the GTSOU’s delegation presented the results of the Operator’s work in 2023. Particular emphasis was put on the fourfold increase in the volume of gas transported from Europe to Ukraine, as well as on the development of new routes. In addition, the GTSOU’s delegation presented a portfolio of services that the Operator offers its foreign partners. The key among these is the transportation of gas to Ukrainian underground gas storages. Apart from that, the Operator offers its potential customers 54 mcm of daily firm capacities for gas transportation from the EU to Ukraine, as well as over 200 mcm of daily firm capacity for that to the EU and Moldova. At that, physical limitations on the re-export of gas pumped into Ukraine’s UGS during the 2024/2025 winter season are absent.

Finally, the Operator’s representatives announced a new independent international stress test that is planned to be held jointly with JSC “Ukrtransgaz” – the operator of Ukraine’s UGS. It will be modelled and performed by a working group comprising and supported by USAID Energy Security Project, Energy Community Secretariat, European Commission’s Directorate General “Joint Research Center,” international technical experts, as well as GTSOU, NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” and Ukrtransgaz, respectively. The purpose of the test is to confirm the sufficient capacity and reliability of the Ukrainian gas transportation system amid military challenges. All scenarios that are planned for simulation within the framework of the stress test envisage zero transit conditions, an increase in the volume of gas injection to Ukrainian UGS up to 5 bcm, as well as critical situations in the GTS and USG operation. The outcomes of the stress test will be made public in the back half of April, before the start of the injection season.

“The European market is undergoing transformations, becoming more versatile, which creates a need to diversify sources of natural gas supply and storage. The GTSOU’s goal amid these new circumstances is to assure its European partners of the stability and unique nature of the products and solutions offered by the Operator for the next gas injection season. In this context, conducting a new stress test will send a clear signal to our partners about the reliability of our infrastructure’s use for gas transportation and storage in Ukraine. Moving towards the full integration with the European energy market, Ukraine – particularly due to the efforts of the GTS Operator and JSC “Ukrtransgaz” – has the opportunity to significantly strengthen the stability of the European energy market, as well as Europe’s energy security as a whole,” Vadym Rybachuk, GTSOU’s Commercial Director, said.

During the three days of the conference, the GTSOU’s delegation held over 30 meetings with representatives of leading European companies from over ten European countries.