The volumes of natural gas imports to Ukraine will be influenced by the amount of domestic production lost due to attacks by the Russian Federation on gas infrastructure, according to Andrey Gerus, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Utilities.
"Gas will need to be imported in proportion to what is lost due to shelling. If our production decreases because of the attacks, then that volume must be imported to maintain balance," he stated in a comment to "EnergoReform" during the Solar Invest Forum Ukraine organized by the Ukrainian Solar Energy Association on Thursday.
The head of the energy committee noted that he is somewhat aware of the production losses due to the attacks, but "to disclose this information would mean informing the enemy about how effective the shelling has been, which should not be done."
Gerus confirmed that the need for gas imports arose primarily due to the shelling, which was unpredictable.
"I don't know what will happen at the end of February or the beginning of March, whether there will be frosts or not. But as of today, imports are proceeding in a way that minimizes issues from lost production," Gerus remarked.
He suggested that the Naftogaz group currently has the resources for imports, but they may need to seek external funding to purchase gas in the spring in preparation for the next heating season.
"One challenge is to get through the heating season now, and another is to prepare for the next one. These issues need to be addressed as they approach: first the current situation, and then the next winter," said the head of the energy committee.
According to him, air defense is the most effective protection, including for gas infrastructure, "but it's not easy to implement."
"We also need to make efforts to disperse everything that can be spread out and build protective structures where possible," he added.