Russia's Energy Ministry Gives Latest Gas Statistics

Daily gas production jumped 10.4%, month-on-month, to 2.12 billion cubic metres (bcm) in December thanks to a rise in seasonal demand, Russia's Ministry of Energy announced.

Production for 2012 declined to 1.79 bcm from 1.84 bcm in 2011 on a daily basis. Gas output from Gazprom, the world's leading producer, decreased in 2012 to 1.31 bcm a day from 1.4 bcm in 2011 as Europeans used cheaper alternatives such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and spot market supplies.

Output at Russia's second-largest gas producer, Novatek, fell to 51 bcm from 53.3 bcm in 2011.

The ministry expected gas production to increase in 2013 to 1.87 bcm a day, or a total 683 bcm.

The data for 2012 gas exports was not yet available.