Ukraine's transmission system operator Ukrtransgaz and Polish counterpart Gaz System are going to increase transmission capacity to allow more gas to flow from Poland into Ukraine, with effect from September 1, Ukrtransgaz said July 12.

From September 1 to April 30 there will be 6mn m³/day (2 825 000 kWh/h, or 250,000 m³/h) capacity; and from May 1 to August 31 there will be 4mn m³/d. This will allow 1.5 times more gas to flow, as the Hermanowice border point is most used in autumn and winter.

Last year Hermanowice saw 968mn m³ flow, of which about 323mn m³ were imported in the first half of the year. Imports of natural gas in the first half of 2017 at Hermanowice were 577mn m³, which is almost 80% more than in the previous year, when Ukraine was still buying some gas from Gazprom.

Increased capacities of the entry point to Ukrainian GTS from Poland will also allow to increase diversification of routes of natural gas supply, while in winter it will be additional possibility to cover peak natural gas demand from Ukrainian consumers.

William Powell