Ukraine Says It Could Start Exporting Biomethane to Europe This November

According to the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine, the country may begin exporting biomethane to Europe in November 2024, after sufficient stocks have been accumulated in storage facilities and personnel are properly trained.

This statement was made by Georgii Geletukha, Chairman of the Board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine, in a commentary to Ukrinform.

Geletukha noted that seven biomethane plants are expected to become operational in Ukraine before the end of 2024. Two of these plants produce liquefied biomethane and do not require a connection to the gas transmission system.

The remaining five plants will be connected to gas networks: one to the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU) and four to the distribution networks. “As far as I know, two of the plants set to be connected to the distribution networks are the most prepared,” Geletukha said, adding that these enterprises have already signed connection contracts.

At the same time, Geletukha emphasized that Ukrainian law requires that biomethane intended for export must first be pumped into gas storage facilities for one month. Biomethane producers must also learn to operate the GTSOU platform and familiarize themselves with the gas market mechanisms necessary for export.

“I think it will take some time. After that, biomethane producers will begin pumping gas for a month. By November, I believe, some of them will have accumulated enough biomethane to begin exports,” Geletukha noted.

According to his estimates, the seven biomethane plants expected to start operations in Ukraine could collectively produce 111 million cubic meters of gas annually. The two plants most ready to begin operations could produce a combined total of 6 million cubic meters of biomethane each year.

However, the expert cautioned that it is too early to make predictions for 2025 regarding biomethane production, as potential investors will likely wait for the first export results before committing to further developments.

It should be noted that, according to Ukraine’s think tank DiXi Group, the country has the potential to produce 21.8 billion cubic meters of biogas and/or biomethane annually.

On March 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved, in the second reading, draft bill No. 9456 ‘On the Customs Control and Customs Clearance of Biomethane Transported through Pipelines via the Customs Border of Ukraine.’

In early September 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance published an order outlining the procedure for the customs clearance of biomethane, thereby unblocking biomethane exports.

Source: ukrinform.net

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