Russia to Produce 117.7 Mln Tonnes Oil in Q1 – Ministry

MOSCOW. Dec 14 (Interfax) – Russia will produce 117.1 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in the first quarter of 2006 and export 56 million tonnes, the Industry and Energy Ministry’s press office said.

The press office said that pipeline operator Transneft would ship 46 million tonnes to countries outside the CIS and 10 million tonnes to the CIS in the quarter, according to the balances for crude oil, key petroleum products and gas and schedule for oil export and transit, which Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko approved on Tuesday.

Russia will produce 173.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas, consuming 148.8 bcm itself and exporting 55.7 bcm to the CIS and elsewhere, the ministry said.