KIEV, June 27 – Ukraine plans to accumulate 14-16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas as of early in the next heating season in 2013/14 in its underground gas storage facilities, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky, told journalists in Kiev.

He added that Naftogaz Ukrayiny would pump most of the gas to the underground storage facilities.

Stavytsky said that last week the government made a decision under which private extracting companies are obliged to send 50% of the gas they extract to the underground gas storage facilities.