Ukraine's gas production rose slightly last year, energy minister says

Natural gas production in Ukraine rose slightly last year, reaching 18.7 billion cubic meters compared with 18.5 billion cubic meters the previous year. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told Reuters today.

The minister said in January that gas consumption in Ukraine last year was around 19 billion cubic meters. In 2021, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, consumption stood at around 27 billion cubic meters. However, the Ukrainian economy contracted sharply as a result of the war, also reducing demand for gas.

Halushchenko also said in January that Ukraine was close to being able to fully meet its gas consumption from domestic sources this year and avoid importing the commodity.

Ukraine ended gas imports from Russia in 2015. Instead, it imports the commodity from European countries and is working to increase domestic production, Reuters reported. Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said last year that it expects gas production in Ukraine to rise by seven percent this year.