As one of the most extensive and powerful networks of trunk gas pipelines in the world, the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine provides a reliable, convenient, and safe gas transit route across much of Europe. Borys Liubych, Chief Procurement Officer and Board Member, tells us more.
TRANSPORTING THE ENERGY OF INDEPENDENCE
With a vision of being a leader in the transformation of the energy system of Ukraine within the integrated European energy market, the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) is on a mission to ensure the reliable transportation of gas in a transparent, non-discriminatory, and affordable way.
GTSOU is a unique company in terms of both its national and European scale.
“We provide services of natural gas transportation for customers from Ukraine and EU countries, as well as give our European customers access to the largest underground gas storage facilities in the region,” introduces Borys Liubych, Chief Procurement Officer and Board Member.
Today, the organisation’s system consists of over 30,000 kilometres of 700 to 1,420 millimetre (mm) main pipelines. In the first 10 months of 2025, over 15 billion cubic metres of natural gas were transported via Ukraine’s gas transmission pipes. The volumes had previously been larger, but by January 2025, the country had fulfilled its contractual obligations and completely stopped the transit of Russian gas.
GTSOU employs approximately 9,000 professionals who maintain the operation of hundreds of gas pumping units and over 1,000 gas distribution stations, making it one of Europe’s largest gas transmission systems.
For the organisation, benchmarking with European operators is amongst its key priorities and a powerful incentive for continuous improvement.
“We have a strategic goal of being a reliable and economically efficient partner. Therefore, we focus on developing new gas transportation products at competitive tariffs, expanding firm capacities, and ensuring the flexibility of our services,” details Liubych.
In parallel, GTSOU strives to be a leader in innovation, actively engaged in creating the European hydrogen corridor, developing the biomethane market, and advancing the gas-driven electricity generation in Ukraine with the active support of European governmental and non-governmental institutions.
Part of the company’s strategy is to engage with European and US manufacturers of equipment and materials, alongside implementing new technological solutions that allow it to replace outdated equipment.
“We have a strategic goal of being a reliable and economically efficient partner. Therefore, we focus on developing new gas transportation products at competitive tariffs, expanding firm capacities, and ensuring the flexibility of our services”
Borys Liubych, Chief Procurement Officer and Board Member, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine
TRANSFORMING UKRAINE’S ENERGY SYSTEM
Liubych joined the company in 2023 with a background in building an effective procurement system and a degree in economics. He applied his approach and knowledge at GTSO in fundamentally new wartime circumstances.
“At the time, Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine was already in progress, which made the task of ensuring stable supply and achieving a drastic increase in efficiency a true challenge,” he expands.
Now, Liubych works towards GTSOU’s mission of leading the transformation of the energy system. For the company, integration into the European energy space is not only about physical gas flows, but also about changing the logic of the system’s operation.
It aims to be a reliable, transparent, and modern link in Europe’s single energy network by guaranteeing safe and flexible transportation, supporting market development and creating conditions for green transition.
“Since our establishment in 2020, we have been operating as an independent European TSO certified in accordance with the EU’s Third Energy Package, ensuring non-discriminatory access of third parties to infrastructure and actively partaking in the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis communautaire (acquis),” explains Liubych.
Additionally, the organisation is readying its system for the energy transition by creating conditions for biomethane exports via its pipelines to Europe, preparing its connection to the European databases for renewable gases, and making efforts to ensure that Ukraine’s future hydrogen network is smoothly integrated into the pan-European one.
Liubych is responsible for ensuring the transformation is based on the use of high-quality equipment, technologies, and services purchased according to the transparent, competitive procedures that European and US suppliers understand.
The company works with international financial institutions, opens the market to reliable manufacturers, and integrates an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) approach into its partner requirements.
“Our ambition in this transformation process is for Ukraine’s transmission system to be perceived as an integral, modern, and reliable part of Europe’s energy system that is ready for the continent’s decarbonised future,” enthuses Liubych.
“Our ambition in this transformation process is for Ukraine’s gas transmission system to be perceived as an integral, modern, and reliable part of Europe’s energy system that is ready for the continent’s decarbonised future”
Borys Liubych, Chief Procurement Officer and Board Member, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine
ENSURING RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE GAS
Despite current challenges, GTSOU is implementing many important projects – both at the company-wide level and within its individual areas of activity.
Focusing specifically on procurements, one of the organisation’s key projects has been the attraction of the Energy Community Secretariat’s funding for the creation of new power generation capacities in Ukraine.
“This involves the purchase and commissioning of six to 30 megawatt gas turbines from such manufacturers as Mitsubishi Power Aero, Baker Hughes, Solar Group, General Electric, MAN Energy Solutions in record time to support the country’s energy system,” dictates Liubych.
The total amount of international funds and resources raised for this project has already exceeded €230 million. For GTSOU, it’s not only about the technical reinforcement of the system, but also the trust of international partners.
Additionally, the primary element of GTSOU’s digital transformation regarding network maintenance has been the implementation of the TORO app, which allows employees to work autonomously without being constantly tied to an office.
“The TORO app has already yielded tangible results – 40 percent fewer trips between facilities and offices, a 40 percent decrease in time spent on registering defects, and no idle periods due to the crews’ cross-functional nature,” informs Liubych.
Alongside GTSOU’s new project initiatives, the organisation is investing in training and hiring individuals from younger generations to fill the current skills gap.
“We purposefully invest in the younger generation, since, in my opinion, the future political and economic map of the world will be shaped in energy markets,” insights Liubych.
As such, the company actively cooperates with specialised universities, offers internships, and provides clear career paths, and its mid-term goal is for at least 25 percent of staff members to be under the age of 30.
Additionally, GTSOU pays significant attention to internal training and development programmes, systematically improving the qualifications of its employees and combining technical training with the development of managerial and digital skills.
However, investment in training alone isn’t enough – creating working conditions which encourage people to stay is crucial.
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“Therefore, we work on both corporate culture and comfortable working conditions. As a result, in 2025, we were ranked as one of Ukraine’s 50 best employers according to independent experts,” prides Liubych.
TAKING FIRST PLACE AMONGST ENERGY ENTERPRISES
As GTSOU continues to look ahead, it has a plethora of endeavours which is looking to embark upon.
Regarding procurement, the company sees significant potential in further digital transformation of its supply chain. Its next major project for 2026 is the implementation of a digital supplier relationships management (SRM) system, which will significantly accelerate and simplify communication with potential suppliers.
Another key focus is to increase the share of direct contracts with European and US manufacturers to 75 percent, targeting key equipment procurements such as pipes, fittings, valves, and power units.
Additionally, GTSOU is working to increase the transparency and quality of its procedures. With the support of Transparency International Ukraine – the Ukrainian arm of a global anti-corruption movement – the country has introduced a customer quality index for state organisations, and the company is setting itself an ambitious goal of taking first place amongst energy industry enterprises.
“All of these achievements and plans are those of a company operating in a country that, for several years, has been living amid full-scale war and constant missile attacks. Our professionals repair and modernise the infrastructure under bombardments, and we are working to organise processes so they meet the level of world-leading companies,” concludes Liubych.
“Ukraine is fighting not only for its territory, but also for the security and energy stability of all of Europe. We are not asking for sympathy – we are offering partnership. Every new contract and investment is a contribution to a common victory and to making Europe stronger,” Liubych concludes.
