The National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission has adopted amendments to the regulatory framework that change the approach to the distribution of capacity of interstate gas transmission system connections. This involves the transition to the distribution of capacity in energy units. This was reported by the National Commission for Energy and Utilities of Ukraine (NKREKP).
The commission notes that such a decision is another step towards the integration of the Ukrainian gas market with the European Union market.
The changes were adopted within the framework of the implementation of the Roadmap for bringing the common product of natural gas transportation through the Trans-Balkan Corridor into line with EU requirements. They should also facilitate the launch of joint auctions for the allocation of combined capacity of interstate connections with EU countries and Moldova, as provided for in EU Regulation No. 459.
The new rules provide for the abandonment of capacity measurement in cubic meters per day. Instead, capacity booking and payment will be carried out in units of MWh/day.
The first auctions under the updated conditions should start in July of this year. They will concern capacity that will become available from the beginning of the next gas year – October 1, 2026.
The Chairman of the National Commission for the Regulation of the Energy and Utilities of Ukraine Yuriy Vlasenko emphasized that this decision does not mean a complete transition to natural gas energy metering. At the same time, according to him, it is an important stage in harmonizing the Ukrainian market with European rules.
Vlasenko also noted that the changes should simplify capacity booking procedures and reduce the administrative burden on market participants.
As is known, gas in Europe is becoming cheaper again amid negotiations between the US and Iran. Investors expect that the countries may agree on opening the Strait of Hormuz for fuel supplies.
