The Cabinet allowed private companies partial gas exports to the EU

For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Cabinet of Ministers has opened the possibility for private gas producers to partially export fuel to EU countries. The main goal of this move is to motivate companies to increase production and attract investment to rebuild damaged infrastructure. The new rules apply exclusively to the private sector: state producers that supply the country's domestic needs will continue to operate only on the Ukrainian market.

The government adopted the relevant decision on 7 October. After the document takes effect, companies will be able to sell abroad up to 15% of the gas they produced and injected into the gas transmission system in the previous month, reports Ekonomichna Pravda. Unused monthly limits do not carry over — it will not be possible to accumulate the allowed volume and export it later. Sales will take place through specialized auctions on the "Ukrainian Energy Exchange," where nonresidents interested in importing Ukrainian gas will be able to participate.

The right to export will be granted, in particular, to DTEK Naftogaz of Rinat Akhmetov — the country's largest private producer; Burisma of the family of former Ecology Minister under Yanukovych, Mykola Zlochevsky; Geo-Alliance of Viktor Pinchuk; Zakhidnadraservis of Zinoviy Kozytskyi; Poltava Gas and Oil Company of the British JKX Oil & Gas; and Nadra-Geoinvest of Oleksandr Katsuba. The mechanism does not apply to gas produced under production-sharing agreements, nor to the "PSO" companies — Naftogaz, Ukrgazvydobuvannya, Ukrnafta, and Ukrnaftoburinnia.

Why the government decided to open exports now

The Ministry of Energy explains the decision by the need to stimulate domestic production, which has fallen significantly in recent years. Production by private gas companies fell from about 5 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 3,7 billion cubic meters in 2025 due to the war, attacks on production infrastructure, and the market economy itself: the domestic gas price is substantially lower than the European price. As of 7 October, a thousand cubic meters of gas in Europe cost 888 dollars, while industrial consumers in Ukraine bought it for about 356 dollars equivalent.

The idea of partially opening exports was discussed by the government for several months, and earlier in October its consideration was planned to be postponed until spring 2027. However, the situation changed: against the background of low storage levels in the EU and geopolitical risks, world gas prices continued to rise, while Ukrainian demand decreased due to a drop in industrial consumption after attacks on metallurgy and port infrastructure. The gap between Ukrainian and European prices widened further, so a partial opening of exports makes it possible to obtain additional foreign currency revenue.

Gas reserves in underground storage facilities before the start of the heating season are more than sufficient — as of early October they had accumulated 15,6 billion cubic meters, which is 1 billion more than the government's target and 2,4 billion more than the minimally necessary level. However, such a volume by itself does not guarantee a trouble-free winter: in the event of severe frosts, consumption will rise, and new Russian strikes could reduce the ability to operate production and supply fuel.

Earlier Informator reported that Ukraine had accumulated the volume of gas necessary for the basic winter scenario of 2026/2027 years, reaching the target filling level of underground storage a month earlier than planned. We also wrote that energy expert Hennadiy Ryabtsev warned of the risk of gas outages in winter due to intensified Russian strikes on production infrastructure, although he does not consider the complete disappearance of gas for the population to be the base scenario.