OREANDA-NEWS. June 10, 2015. Preparation for the heating season has already commenced, announced Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn during a briefing at the Government House said the Volodymyr, June 8. According to him, the Ministry has launched a preparation process in three areas: electricity, natural gas and coal.

Volodymyr Demchyshyn informed presently there had been accumulated in gas storages 10.8 billion cubic meters of gas, while the amount of 70 million cubic meters of gas was purchased on a daily basis. "19 billion cubic meters, which we wanted to pump up by the start of the heating season, remain as our plans. Today we have 10.8 billion cubic meters in our storages. I think by late June we will have about 11.8 billion cubic meters", said Volodymyr Demchyshyn. According to him, gas is supplied from Russia and as the reverse flows. In addition, the Minister noted that the storages were filled with gas produced in Ukraine.

"Part of the gas produced from Ukrainian territory is also directed into the storages. We produce 50-55 million cubic meters, while we consume less than 40 million cubic meters. Therefore, over 15 million cubic meters of our domestic blue fuel production also flow to the storages," he explained.

By the way, he stressed that with the participation of the European Commission Ukraine was engaged in negotiations with the Russian party concerning prolonging of the "winter package". "And certain agreements on discounts, on the formula and funding have been reached. And it concerns our hopes that the European Commission will support us in search of financing to provide the necessary gas volumes before the heating season", explained Volodymyr Demchyshyn.

Besides, the Ministry is working to improve the efficiency of nuclear energy that is used by 85%, however it can provide considerably more. In particular, the lines are being finalized to allow the Khmelnytsky and Rivne nuclear power plants to supply electricity to Central Ukraine.

Apart from that, he informed the Ministry had developed a programme for the reform of the coal industry. In particular, in the near future for considering by the Government there will be submitted an initiative to join promising state-owned mines into one vertically integrated company.