Ukrainian gas consumption is expected to fall by 5% in 2016 according to the head of state gas company, Naftogaz. 

Andrij Kobolev said that 32 billion cubic meters will be consumed in Ukraine this year, representing a small but significant decrease on last year’s consumption.

2015 saw a drop of gas consumption in Ukraine by 22.6%, due to lower subscriptions from households and huge disruptions in eastern parts of the country.

Kiev has stopped the importation of gas from Russia entirely, and is importing the balance of its requirements over its domestic production from European states. This gas is ‘re-exported’ gas as about 40% of the European Union gas requirements transit through Ukraine anyway.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demcysyn, said earlier in the year that Ukraine will import about a third of its usage this year. This will be between 11 and 13 billion cubic metres according to the Minister, but lower than 11 if Naftogaz predictions are correct.