Ukrainian traders, following their foreign counterparts, import gas from European countries through Moldova with subsequent injection of gas into Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities.
Recall that at the beginning of the year, the Government of Moldova approved the decision on the necessary changes to the legislation, which opened up the possibility for all companies to use the backhaul service (virtual reverse) at the points of connection with Ukraine. This move unblocked gas imports to Ukraine from the south through the Trans-Balkan route.
The essence of the virtual reverse is to optimize the transportation work of GTS operators, in particular, in the presence of demand for transportation across the border in both directions. In this case, operators carry out physical transportation only in one direction, and in the other, the gas is transported using a virtual reverse (or backhaul). Then the fuel does not physically move across the border, and the parties carry out a mutual settlement. This is one of the most advanced commercial methods of the European gas market, with obvious advantages:
- The economy of fuel gas.
- Reduction of CO2 emissions when burning the resource.
«Last year, European countries, even against the backdrop of the war, became convinced of the importance of Ukrainian gas storage facilities and Ukraine’s reliability as a partner. Ukraine’s gas infrastructure has acted as a buffer between seasonal peaks in demand and supply and provided the necessary flexibility for European energy systems when using renewable energy. The Gas TSO of Ukraine, together with Ukrtransgaz, continues to provide traders with short-haul and “customs warehouse” services. We offer our partners cooperation that will strengthen the European energy market and contribute to the further integration of Ukraine», – believes Pawel Stanczak, Acting General Director.
Today, Ukraine has the opportunity to carry out virtual reverse with all GTS operators of neighboring European countries, the key prerequisite is the availability of a resource in the system.