Ukraine has every chance of becoming a key energy hub in Europe thanks to its gas storage facilities.
Ukraine has a strong potential to become the main energy hub of the European continent. This is facilitated by the largest underground gas storage facilities (UGS), historically developed transit infrastructure and the country's successful integration into the single EU energy system.
Representatives of the US Department of Energy highlighted several fundamental advantages that provide Ukraine with strategic leadership in the region:
The largest gas storage facilities in Europe. They are able to act as a reliable "bridge" and guarantor of energy security for the countries of Central and Western Europe.
Large-scale transit network. Historically, Ukraine has been the most important logistical corridor for transporting energy to European consumers.
Synchronization with the EU. Successful integration with the European ENTSO-E energy system opens the door to unhindered flow of capacity.
Own resource base. The presence of significant natural gas reserves opens up prospects for large-scale production and industrial development.
The United States is considering several strategic areas of cooperation with Ukraine in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Among the key initiatives:
a planned increase in supplies of American LNG for the needs of the Ukrainian market;
creation of high-tech infrastructure for regasification, safe storage and further transportation of liquefied gas;
attraction of investments in the development of domestic production of Ukrainian natural gas.
American government officials emphasize an important shift in geopolitical perception: Washington views Ukraine not just as an end consumer, but also as a future powerful producer and transitor of energy resources. Rapp also recalled that the United States is already a world leader in LNG exports and intends to double these volumes by the end of the current decade.
In parallel, the United States is actively working on the launch of the so-called "Vertical Corridor". This is a fundamentally new route for transporting energy from the south to the north of Europe, which will run, in particular, through the territory of Ukraine. It is expected that this logistics project will open up unprecedented opportunities for diversifying energy supplies and strengthening the independence of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Source: https://dengi.ua/ua/business/9760121-ssha-planuyut-peretvoriti-ukrayinu-na-klyuchovij-energetichnij-khab-jevrop
