KIEV, Aug. 13 – Ukraine must accumulate 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas in underground gas storage facilities by November 1 for stable operation during the winter, the government’s press service reported Thursday.

The new target comes amid different estimates of how much gas Ukraine needs to survive the winter.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said in July that 16.6 billion cu m by October 15 is a “comfortable” level of the reserves.