In February 2025, the first pipeline supply of biomethane took place between Ukraine and the European Union. The Ukrainian biomethane producer VITAGRO ENERGY LLC performed the export.

“Launching of biomethane exports from Ukraine to the EU is a crucial step in enhancing our energy independence and integration into the European energy space. This not only opens up new opportunities for our energy sector, but also promotes the decarbonization of the economy and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. Ukraine is ready to become a reliable supplier of emission-free energy to Europe. The Ministry of Energy pays considerable attention to the issue of biomethane exports, which is essential within the new business model of the natural gas market and the energy sector of Ukraine as a whole,” said Ukrainian Minister of Energy German Galushchenko.

The volume of the first biomethane shipment to the EU amounted to 67 thousand cubic meters.

“This is a relatively small volume compared to the volumes of natural gas that the Gas TSO of Ukraine is used to handle with. However, for us, these 67 thousand cubic meters of biomethane are as significant as the first thousand cubic meters of natural gas imported from Europe to Ukraine or the first thousand cubic meters of European gas injected into Ukrainian UGS facilities for storage. This is the first shipment that has tested all the interaction processes between the producer, GTSOU, the GTS Operator and the State Customs Service of Ukraine, and has proven that Ukrainian biomethane export to Europe is possible,” said Dmytro Lyppa, the General Director of GTSOU.

Ukrainian producers can export biomethane to EU countries via the existing Ukrainian gas transmission system by connecting biomethane plants to both gas transmission and gas distribution networks. The terms, conditions and cost of connection and its transmission via the Ukrainian gas transmission system for biomethane producers are similar to those for natural gas producers.

The Memorandum on Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and the EU in the biomethane, hydrogen and other synthetic gases sectors was signed in February 2023.

To ensure that Ukrainian biomethane can be exported by pipeline, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine adopted a customs clearance procedure outlined in Order No. 380 titled “On Amendments to Certain Regulatory Acts of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on Customs Matters”. The relevant procedure officially took effect in September 2024.

On March 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine on customs clearance of biomethane”. From this date forward, the customs clearance process for biomethane transmitted via pipeline will follow the same procedures as those applied for natural gas. This change means that all customs regulations applied to natural gas will also apply to biomethane.

Biomethane is refined form of biogas that shares similar properties with natural gas. It can be utilized for heating, generating electricity, and as a fuel for the transportation means. Notably, this biogas can be integrated into the gas infrastructure without the need for additional costs associated with new networks, making biomethane available for widespread use.