Ukraine's pipeline operator transports 70% of Russia's natural gas to Europe and controls over 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) of pipelines, 71 pumping stations and 12 underground storage facilities.
"The volume of natural gas transit through Ukraine's gas transportation system to Europe was 77 billion cu m in January-August 2006 and 9.2 billion cu m to CIS countries, down 4.8 billion and 0.1 billion respectively year-on-year," the company's press service said.
Ukrtransgaz said a fall in consumption caused by unusual hot weather in Europe this summer and a Russian decision to cut supplies during a bitter spat over prices in January were responsible for the decline.
But the press service said that the company and clients had complied with their contract commitments.
The westward capacity of Ukraine's gas transportation system is currently 140 billion cu m a year.
