According to the country's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, Ukraine reduced gas consumption 9.7% YoY to 41.162 billion cubic meters in January to October 2012.
The ministry said that gas consumption in October decreased by 22.7% YoY to 3.724 billion cubic meters. Imports of gas to Ukraine decreased by 28.2% YoY to 27.749 billion cubic meters in January to October including growth of 3.1% to 3.170 billion cubic meters.
The decrease in imports in the 10 months was due to the purchase by national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy of large amounts of gas at the start of 2011 in fulfilment of a Stockholm Arbitration Court ruling on the return to Switzerland's RosUkrEnergo of 12.1 billion cubic meters. The reduction in Ukraine's Russian gas imports was connected with its intention to cut such purchases due to the high price.
Transit of gas via Ukraine in the ten months decreased by 19.2% YoY to 69.196 billion cubic meters including a decrease of 13.1% in October to 6.443 billion cubic meters.
