Heating season 2022-2023. Is Ukraine ready?

The heating season of 2022-23 is approaching. Experts predict a cold, hard winter for the population of all regions of Ukraine, and advise stocking up on warm things.

What causes concern and what risks actually await Ukrainians in winter?

By 2022, Ukraine will consume about 32 billion m3 of hydrocarbons annually. The sources of gas are domestic production, which has stabilized at the level of 18-20 billion m3 per year, and Russian imports.

Disturbing facts:

• With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the import of Russian energy carriers to the country stopped, and its own gas production fell by 4.6%. The largest gas fields in Ukraine are located in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions, which were partially occupied.
• From February 24 to March 15, gas production companies of Ukraine reduced daily production by 17.3%
• Significant damage is to heat networks and heat sources. In Kyiv alone, almost 80 heating facilities were damaged during active hostilities.
• In addition to the gas production industry, many industrial facilities were affected. Because of this, in the first month of the war, large industrial enterprises reduced gas consumption by 84%.

But there is hope that we will defeat not only the invaders but also the cold in the homes.

“Thermo-modernization of facilities is one of the important measures for reducing the consumption of natural gas and other energy resources. The implementation of complex energy efficiency engineering solutions will help to reduce the use of energy carriers by up to 50%, and such savings are extremely important for our state in this difficult period” – commented on the preparation for the heating season, the Chairman of the Board of the Public Union Yehor Stefanovych

Soothing facts:

• Currently, Ukrainian companies are steadily producing approximately 50 million cubic meters of natural gas.
• According to the Ministry of Energy, the forecast consumption in the autumn-winter period of 2022/23 will be about 11.7 billion cubic meters. m, which is 40% less compared to last season.
• According to the calculation of Naftogaz of Ukraine, the need for imports is up to 3 billion m3 of gas. Ukraine buys gas from European partners, as well as gas brought to European terminals from the USA.
• Thanks to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the liberation of settlements in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, GTSOU specialists began active work on the restoration of damaged sections of main gas pipelines and other HTS facilities, access to which was previously unavailable due to occupation and hostilities.

As of September 16, 2022:

✅ 13 billion cubic meters are accumulated in Ukrainian underground storage. m of gas for the heating season. It is planned to get 14.5-15 billion cubic meters of gas by October 1.

✅ 2 million tons of coal are stored in warehouses. This is almost three times more than on the corresponding date last year. Up to 2.5 million tons will be accumulated by October 15.

✅ As of today, Ukraine is 80% ready for the heating season. The readiness of housing facilities is 72%, and heat networks — are 74%. Active restoration of the damaged infrastructure is also taking place.

✅ An operational headquarters has been formed, which will quickly resolve any crisis issues. First, is the issue of eliminating the consequences of Russia’s attacks on our critical infrastructure. “We prepared and are preparing for all scenarios. And we will do everything possible to ensure that Ukrainians have heat, light, and water this winter,” reported Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

Therefore, the country will have enough gas and will be provided with coal for everything for the entire period of the heating season 2022/23.

President of the Public Union “Ukrainian Fund of Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving” and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Anar Rafiyev emphasized:

 “Based on our own experience, we strive to build a new, safer, more efficient, and improved version of the country, taking into account the best world technologies in energy and heat saving. Our organization has a Research and Development (R&D) division. It was created for the study and implementation of innovative technologies, in particular energy-saving ones. Our goal is to make Ukraine’s economy as independent as possible from imported resources, primarily from Russia’s energy resources.”