KIEV, Nov. 19 - Natural gas stocks in underground storage facilities in October grew by 2.5% or 600 million cubic meters, to 24.4 billion cubic meters (bcm), the Fuel and Energy Ministry said.

Gas pumping to storage facilities as of November 1, 2010 came to 12.9 bcm, a 22.9% rise year-over-year (10.5 bcm). Gas stored in underground storage facilities as of November 1, 2010 was 6.9% less then as of November 1, 2009 (26.2 bcm).

The indicators are explained by the fact that gas takeout in the previous heating season exceeded gas takeout in the 2008-2009 heating season, the source said.