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Energy ministry expects fall in gas production in Russia due to lower consumption

According to the official, natural gas output in Russia will stand at 630 bln cubic meters

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Russian Energy Ministry expects falling gas production in Russia due to lower consumption, Deputy Minister of Energy Kirill Molodtsov said Friday.

"Unfortunately, we expect some decline in gas production again due to the volume of consumption," he said.

According to the official, natural gas output in Russia will stand at 630 bln cubic meters.

"It will be around 630 bln cubic meters," he said when answering the question what gas output is expected for 2015.

Thus, according to the forecast by the Ministry, gas output will decline by 2% in 2015 compared with 2014 when it stood at 642 bln cubic meters.

Earlier Deputy Minister said gas output will decline due to enhanced energy efficiency.

"You can’t call it stagnation, you may only speak about the positive effect of energy efficiency but one should acknowledge that there is a problem, which should be resolved in 2016," Molodtsov said.

The deputy minister also pointed out that oil output in Russia may reach 533.6 mln tonnes in 2015.

"533 (mln tonnes) is expected while the most ambitious forecast stands at 533.6 (mln tonnes)," he said when answering the question what oil production is expected in 2015.

Russian government may approve Energy Strategy till 2035 in Q1 2016

According to Molodtsov, the government may approve Russia’s Energy Strategy till 2035 early next year, the document is ready and is scheduled for consideration by the government for Q1 2016.

The overall concept of development of Russia’s gas sector has already been agreed with all engaged departments, Molodtsov said, while the concept of development of the oil sector has been sent for agreement.

When answering the question whether the Energy Strategy implies preservation of Gazprom’s pipeline gas export monopoly, the deputy minister said that "so far splitting of the pipeline system is not being discussed but there should be such an option."