The volume of natural gas removed from Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage has increased three times

Due to the cold weather, the volume of natural gas removed from Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage (Inčukalns UGS) has increased for three times during a week, reaching 9 Mio m3 per 24-hours, testifies the operative information of the natural gas transmission and storage system operator JSC Conexus Baltic Grid.

A week ago, the daily volume of natural gas removed from the storage was 2.8 Mio. m3, and the indicators gradually increased thus reacting to the changes in weather conditions and fall of outdoor air temperature.

It must be emphasised that, although the storage this year is filled for ca. 60%, the filling with natural gas is sufficient to ensure the consumption of Latvia. At the same time, each season can bring unexpected challenges to the security of natural gas supply and we must be ready for it.

Zane Kotāne, Chairperson of the Board of JSC Conexus Baltic Grid informs: “Natural gas market and stable natural gas supply is closely related with the weather conditions. This is why the storage must be ready for different scenarios and all situations must be modulated. JSC Conexus Baltic Grid works purposefully with the natural gas sellers and decision-makers to implement mechanisms in the open natural gas market that keeps us ready also for lasting cold. It must be admitted that currently sellers in Latvia have no compulsory requirements to store the natural gas reserves in the storage, that from the point of view of energy security and stability is an issue that must be solved in the very near future.”

If necessary and if natural gas sellers have timely taken care for natural gas reserves, Inčukalns UGS can ensure the energy security of the whole region. However, the active natural gas reserve in Inčukalns UGS at the end of injection season 2018 were by 1.5 TWh less that in 2017. It must be emphasised that currently the situation doesn’t request immediate action because the employees of JSC Conexus Baltic Grid regularly inspect the reserves.