Frosts not a problem for Belarusians - Operating stock of natural gas created

Belarus is ready for winter. Belarus has the necessary reserve of natural gas, assures the Belarusian subsidiary of Gazprom. The accumulated amount will provide consumers in any weather, even in severe frosts, when fuel consumption increases manifold. Gas has already been pumped into the underground storage facilities. Raw materials will be supplied to all regions of the country as needed. This work has already begun.

The technology was tested here back in the 70s, in order to store fuel for future use. Since then, as soon as it gets colder, natural gas from the local storages feeds the capital, Gomel Region and Mogilev Region.

"The area of the underground gas storage is about 8 square kilometers. There are 208 wells," said the Head of the Gas Mains Pipeline Administration.

Essentially, this is the country's strategic reserve. It is necessary to compensate for the uneven consumption of gas. The demand for fuel increases in winter. Storage facilities become a safety cushion for consumers all over the country. And in summer, when the demand decreases, the underground reservoirs are again filled to the brim. This season pumping is already completed.

The Ossipovichi site stores almost one third of the country's gas reserves. These are not pure reservoirs. Fuel is stored and pumped into the water-bearing stratum at a depth of half a kilometer.

The main "sponsor" of the storages is the gas pipeline. The gas is cleaned, metered and compressed. Only afterwards they are pumped underground.

Osipovichiyskoye gas storage has a capacity of about 300 million cubic meters. This volume can supply the entire region for two weeks non-stop.

Sergey Mozhilovsky, Head of Osipovichi Unit of Gazprom Trasngaz Belarus:

“We have already started taking gas for the fall and winter period. Our main consumers are BMZ, Elizovo Glassworks and thermal power plants in Minsk and Bobruisk.”

Vladimir Ausev, chief engineer, first deputy general director of Gazprom Transgaz Belarus:

“I assure you that the Republic of Belarus will have gas. The gas transmission system is ready to operate in the autumn-winter period. An operational reserve of 1.09 billion cubic meters of gas has been created. This will allow us to confidently enter the heating season and provide our consumers with natural gas during peak loads.”

The Belarusian subsidiary of Gazprom assures: Belarusians may fear no freezing temperatures. There is enough gas for everyone in any weather.