--- title: "Ukraine Discusses Gas Exports to the EU: How 15% of Production Will Save the Industry from Stagnation" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ **Ukraine Ready for Limited Gas Exports to the EU**: Experts assess the benefits of selling 15% of production. πŸ“‰ **Price Spread**: Gas on the UEB costs ~$480, on the TTF hub ~$739. The $300 difference could be a lifeline for the industry. πŸ›  **Where will the money go?** Repairing damaged facilities, new wells, and geological exploration. The private sector has not yet reached pre-war volumes (3.5 billion vs 5 billion cubic meters). βš–οΈ **Security**: Exports will be strictly limited and can be stopped at any time if energy security is threatened. πŸ“ˆ **Reserves**: 13 billion cubic meters already accumulated in UGS (+40% compared to last year). By November β€” more than 15 billion. #Ukraine #Gas #Economy #Energy #XABinfo" date: 2026-08-17T17:04:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-discusses-gas-exports-to-eu-15-percent-production tags: [ukraine-gas, energy-export, economy-2026, gas-prices, tiff-hub] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine Discusses Gas Exports to the EU: How 15% of Production Will Save the Industry from Stagnation ![Worker at a gas facility turns a valve, symbolizing gas export from Ukraine to the EU](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/ukraina-eksport-gaza-v-es-15-protsentov-dobychi/ukraina-eksport-gaza-v-es-15-protsentov-dobychi-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The price difference between Ukraine and Europe reaches $300 per thousand cubic meters. - Exporting up to 15% of domestic production is proposed to modernize the industry. - The private gas extraction sector has not yet restored pre-war volumes (3.5 billion cubic meters vs 5 billion). - 13 billion cubic meters of gas have been accumulated in Ukraine's UGS, which is 40% more than last year. ### Economic Incentive: Price Spread as a Driver for Development The Ukrainian gas industry stands on the brink of an important strategic decision. According to data current as of mid-August 2026, Ukrainian gas producers are showing serious interest in the possibility of exporting part of their product to European markets. The primary motivation is a significant price spread: while the cost of gas on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEB) fluctuates around $480 per thousand cubic meters, on the European TTF hub it reaches $739. A difference of nearly $300 creates a powerful economic incentive for producers, who see this as a chance not just to increase profits, but to secure a critically important resource for modernization. Leonid Unigovsky, General Director of the consulting company "Neftegazstroyinformatika," emphasizes that the companies' desire to sell gas at European prices is dictated not only by commercial benefit. A significant portion of corporate budgets today goes towards restoring infrastructure damaged during military actions and purchasing reserve equipment. Without additional investment that exports could provide, the industry risks facing an inability to finance new wells and geological exploration work. ### The "Controlled Export" Model: Balancing Profit and Security The government export model under discussion does not provide for the complete opening of borders for gas. It refers to a strictly regulated mechanism that will allow selling abroad only a limited portion of domestic production β€” up to 15%. Such a measure is intended to balance business interests and national energy security. Exports will be conducted with overall limits, while the state retains the right to immediately halt supplies in the event of risks to domestic energy supply. This approach is supported by the expert community. Andriy Prokip, Director of Energy Programs at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, previously proposed a flexible system where the state sets permissible export volumes for short periods (a week, a ten-day period, or half a month) and promptly reviews quotas after assessing the real balance in the system. Vladimir Shchelkunov, President of ICC Ukraine, also advocated for the controlled sale of a small portion of gas as a way to support the extraction economy. ### The Problem of Private Sector Stagnation and Capacity Restoration The key argument in favor of exports is the need to overcome stagnation in the private gas extraction sector. According to Leonid Unigovsky, private companies have not yet returned to pre-war production volumes. If in 2021 the private sector produced about 5 billion cubic meters of gas, this year (2026) the figure is only 3.5–3.7 billion cubic meters. "The gas extraction business cannot stagnate forever," the expert noted, pointing out that without an influx of funds, the industry will not be able to restore and expand its capacities. The introduction of zero quotas on Ukrainian gas exports at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022 was a forced measure. However, now that the situation has stabilized, experts see partial exports as a tool to "revive" the industry. Additional revenue will allow companies to invest in new projects, which in the long term will increase Ukraine's own energy security. ### Transport Storage and Preparation for the Heating Season The decision on exports is also closely linked to the current status of underground gas storage facilities (UGS). In the second half of August 2026, about 13 billion cubic meters of gas were accumulated in Ukrainian UGS, which is more than 40% higher than last year's figures. According to government estimates, by the beginning of November, the country may accumulate more than 15 billion cubic meters, which should be sufficient for a comfortable heating season. The high level of storage filling creates the prerequisites for allocating part of the surplus for export without detriment to domestic consumption. This confirms the expediency of the model with a 15% limit: at current rates of gas accumulation, the state has a "buffer" that allows for flexible management of flows without putting the population at risk during the winter period. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How much gas does Ukraine plan to export? **A:** The possibility of exporting a limited portion of domestic production β€” up to 15% β€” is being discussed. ### Q: Why do companies want to export gas? **A:** Prices in Europe (around $739) are significantly higher than in Ukraine (around $480). The $300 difference will allow financing repairs and new wells. ### Q: Does this threaten energy security? **A:** No, exports will be strictly limited and can be immediately halted in the event of risks to domestic supply.