KIEV, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine, which wants to stockpileat least 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas for the 2019/20heating season, had reserves of 17.2 bcm by Aug. 17, gastransport company Ukrtransgaz said on Monday.
Ukraine had stored 13.9 bcm of gas by the same time lastyear.
The head of state energy company Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolev,has said that Ukraine needs to increase its gas reserves by 18%this year to cover its winter needs and to guarantee transit toEuropean consumers.
The country consumed 32.3 bcm of gas in 2018, 10.6 bcm ofwhich was imported. For the heating season from mid-October toApril it stored 16.9 bcm of gas.
Ukraine used to meet its gas needs with imports from Russiabut has not bought Russian gas directly since November 2015after Kiev's relations with Moscow soured over Russia'sannexation of Crimea the previous year.
Kiev now imports from Europe.(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Susan Fenton)