LUKoil chief predicts further decline in Russian oil output

MOSCOW, April 15 (RIA Novosti) - The head of Russia's largest independent oil producer LUKoil, Vagit Alekperov, said on Wednesday the current decrease in Russia's oil production is likely to continue.

Russia's oil output dropped 0.7% in 2008, year-on-year, to 488 million tons. In the first quarter of 2009, Russia cut its oil output by 1.1% to 120 million tons, according to government data.