This is a historic event for the Ukrainian energy sector, which has the potential to produce up to 20 billion cubic meters of biomethane annually.
The two-year process to allow exports involved the cooperation of various stakeholders, including MPs, the Ministry of Finance, the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the Energy Customs, the operators of Ukraine's gas transmission system and gas storage facilities, as well as the expert community and biomethane producers, to amend the legislation and lift the export ban.
The first batch of biomethane was exported by Vitagro, an agricultural holding in Khmelnytsky Oblast with a production capacity of 3 million cubic meters per year.
Two other major producers, Gals Agro, also with a production capacity of 3 million cubic meters per year in Chernihiv Oblast, and MHP Oril-Leader, with a capacity of 11 million cubic meters from its plant in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, are also connected to the grid.
Biomethane is an environmentally friendly gas produced by purifying biogas from food and livestock waste.
On Nov. 22, Vitagro announced its plans to build two additional biomethane plants with a combined capacity of 8 million cubic meters of this natural gas substitute per year.