MOSCOW, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - Natural gas
production in Russia is expected to reach around 620-644
billion cubic meters while gas exports could hit 190-196
billion cu m in 2009, the economics ministry said on Thursday.
Russia's Economic Development Ministry published its
updated forecast on Thursday for the country's economic
development in 2009.
"Amid a slump in gas demand on the domestic and external
markets in January-March, gas production in 2009 could amount
to 620-644 billion cubic meters and exports are estimated at
190-196 billion cubic meters," the forecast said.
According to Russia's State Statistics Service, natural
gas output in Russia grew 1.6%, year-on-year, in 2008 to 663
billion cubic meters.
Russia's Federal Customs Service earlier reported that the
country's gas exports to countries other than former Soviet
republics had increased 2.6%, year-on-year, in 2008 to 158.4
billion cubic meters while exports to CIS countries (a loose
association of former Soviet republics) had dropped 5.7% to
15.9 billion cubic meters.
Overall, Russia exported 174.3 billion cubic meters of gas
worth $66.4 billion in 2008, the Federal Customs Service
reported.
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