Ukraine will take a $350 million loan from Canada for the purchase of gas

Ukraine plans to take a $350 million loan from Canada for gas purchases by Naftogaz, Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on his Telegram channel.

“The Budget Committee approved a bill on additional spending by 270 billion hryvnias ($7.31 billion) by increasing domestic borrowing… They also added 12.7 billion hryvnias ($350 million) for the purchase of gas by Naftogaz for a loan (loan for ten years at 1.6%) from the Government of Canada,” he wrote.

At the end of July, Poland was the largest external supplier of gas to Ukraine. Virtual reversal from the country has become impossible since May, as Poland refused to pay Gazprom in rubles. Previously, Ukraine purchased Russian gas from Slovakia and Hungary on a virtual reverse basis, receiving it from the general flow. Now, Naftogaz has to wait until the flow of gas crosses the borders, and then returns to Ukraine from European countries.

The head of Naftogaz, Yuriy Vitrenko, said at the end of July that by August, storage reserves would amount to 11.8 billion cubic meters. m of gas. According to him, the company continues to accumulate gas at a rate of 34-35 million cubic meters. m per day. To pass the heating season (starts in mid-October), Ukraine needs 15-19 billion cubic meters. m of gas.

On July 26, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine intends to apply to the United States with a request for a “gas lend-lease.” According to him, the country is preparing for winter and is looking for solutions for the heating season.

Subscribe on Vedomosti on Telegram and stay up to date with the main economic and business news.