Norway to provide additional $95 million for Ukraine’s gas purchases
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To ensure stable gas supplies for Ukraine's population, enterprises, and industries, the Norwegian government is allocating an additional 1 billion Norwegian kroner ($95 million) to finance gas imports.
This was announced in a government press release, as reported by Rubryka.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that a secure energy supply is crucial for Ukraine's stability.
"This was one of the topics discussed during President Zelensky's visit to Norway last week. There is an urgent need for increased funding for gas imports to provide power and heating for homes, businesses and public institutions. Norway is doing its part to meet this need," he stated.
The new funding will be channeled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to purchase gas from Western suppliers. The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz will receive the imported gas, which will be used to meet consumption needs and boost reserves in case of further Russian attacks on Ukraine's gas infrastructure.
The financing is part of the Nansen Support Program for Ukraine and comes from Norway's 2025 budget allocation for Ukraine's energy sector.
"Access to electricity is essential to safeguard the security of the Ukrainian people and ensure that society can continue to function. Attacks on the Ukrainian power supply are, and have been, an attack on the very core of Ukrainian society. They are part of an attempt to weaken the Ukrainian economy and undermine the Ukrainian people's trust in their Government. This is why it is both crucial and of strategic importance to help to maintain access to gas," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, who is visiting Ukraine this week.
On March 26, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a loan of up to €270 million for Naftogaz of Ukraine to purchase gas for the next two heating seasons.
In early February, it was reported that Ukraine maintained high levels of gas imports—16.3 million cubic meters per week—by continuing purchases on the European Union market. The country sharply increased gas imports that month following a series of Russian missile strikes targeting Ukraine's gas infrastructure.
In January, Russian forces launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on the Lviv region, where major gas storage facilities are located, as well as on the Kharkiv region, Ukraine's main gas production hub.
These attacks on state-owned gas assets forced Ukraine to turn to costly alternative fuel imports from the EU. According to Bloomberg, Russian airstrikes reduced Naftogaz's production by a third, and Ukraine will need to import approximately 1 billion cubic meters of gas to compensate.
Additionally, Rubryka previously reported that Ukraine's overall gas production fell by 40% due to Russian missile strikes. To offset this decline, Ukraine plans to import up to 800 million cubic meters of gas from Europe in February and March.
