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Russian independent oil companies report output reduction, 21% export increase for 2022

It is reported that the ruble’s exchange rate drop, the growth of oil prices and difficulties related to oil sales in early 2022 resulted in the fact that the activities of many companies operating in the sector turned out loss-making, with most firms suspending exploration and field drilling and well servicing

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Independent oil companies reduced crude production last year for the first time since 2018, whereas their exports rose by more than 21% to a record 9.6 mln tons, General Director of the Association of Independent Oil and Gas Producing Organizations AssoNeft Elena Korzun said in an interview with the Oil and Gas Vertical journal.

The ruble’s exchange rate drop, the growth of oil prices and difficulties related to oil sales in early 2022 resulted in the fact that the activities of many companies operating in the sector turned out loss-making, with most firms suspending exploration and field drilling and well servicing, she said. "As a result, oil production by the sector of independent oil and gas companies decreased in 2022 first since 2018. Compared to 2021, it fell by 68,880 tons to 24.191 mln tons," Korzun added, noting that production even decreased in the sector of large independent producers, but it particularly concerned small companies with production less than 50,000 tons per year, which cut output by almost 19%.

That said, the companies operating in the sector boosted oil exports notably, which hit a record 9.6 mln tons compared with 7.9 mln tons in 2021. "Such an increase was due to limited possibilities of independent oil and gas companies on sales on the domestic market and the premium nature of the external market. In 2022, the share of supplies to the Kozmino port rose even higher, sales through Primorsk and Ust-Luga, towards Hungary grew, while exports via Novorossiysk, as well as towards CIS countries and Slovakia, fell sharply," she explained.

Small companies sell an average of 80-90% of oil on the domestic market, on which sales conditions were much worse last year than on the international market, Korzun added. "The volume of sales by the sector on the domestic market, the key one for small and medium-sized independent oil and gas companies, decreased. In 2021, independent companies supplied 16.465 mln tons to local refineries, whereas in 2022 - 14.156 mln tons. This was one of the reasons of a decrease in production volumes in the sector of independent oil and gas companies," she said, adding that independent firms boosted deliveries to plants owned by vertically integrated companies last year.

The share of independent oil producers in exploration of small and very small fields in Russia stands at 33%, whereas the whole sector accounts for around 4.5% of the country’s production, AssoNeft’s chief said.

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Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

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Russia’s Sukhoi jet catches fire while landing in Turkey

According to HaberGlobal television, all 79 passengers on board were evacuated

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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Kremlin doesn’t see Trump’s future term through ‘rose-colored glasses’ — spokesman

Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as president on January 20, 2025

Potential deployment of intermediate-range missiles depends on US moves — Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that "any escalation scenarios, if they start to materialize, will be a direct consequence of the reckless" and "inhumane policy that is pursued by Washington and leading European countries"

Gazprombank’s UnionPay cards no longer serviced in several countries

Guterres condemns supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine

The UN Secretary-General urged world leaders to join the Ottawa Convention

Ukrainian army mercenaries from Colombia linked to US-controlled drug cartels — expert

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Ukrainian strikes inside Russia impossible without Western support — newspaper

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Many experts believe this is the best tank of our time, compared to Western counterparts in particular, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council said

Kiev has ‘no chance’ of retaking lost territories — Blackwater founder

Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

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Large number of Ukrainians to lose mobilization exemption after February 28 — deputy

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

France, UK will have to pay for their helping Ukraine strike inside Russia — diplomat

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

Moscow to announce new Russian ambassador to US after relevant decree is signed — Kremlin

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According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

Senior envoy sees Putin’s statement as signal of Russia’s readiness for military responses

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Retreating Ukrainian troops leave dozens of bodies behind in Chasov Yar

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Putin congratulates Serbian film director Kusturica with seventieth birthday

Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Serbia Natalia Klischenkova read the text of the telegram to Kusturica

UK mercenary taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk area — source

"A mercenary from Britain has been taken prisoner in the Kursk area," the person said

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Putin, Turkish president hold phone talks — Kremlin

The leaders also discussed some international issues

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

Russia will respond 'in every way' to Seoul’s arms supply to Kiev — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko called on South Korean to soberly assess the situation and refrain from "reckless steps"

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Melih Altinok also praised Putin for "not surrendering to the World Health Organization during the pandemic" and pursuing the nation’s own policy in fighting the virus

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"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments," Dmitry Peskov said

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Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

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Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 25th

Cargo plane crashes near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania

One of the pilots reportedly survived the crash, while no information is currently available about the other people on board

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Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

Trump ‘incredibly concerned’ about escalation in Ukraine, his NSA pick Waltz says

Trump is "incredibly concerned" about the escalation that is taking place and "where it’s all going," he said on Fox News

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

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Kremlin refrains from predicting outcome of Romanian elections

Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia is well aware of Romania’s current government’s policy

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Independent candidate Georgescu leading first round of presidential election in Romania

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Comprehensive partnership agreement between Russia, Iran to cover defense sphere

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Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

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Ukrainian army admits loss of 40% of territories it controlled in Kursk Region — agency

"At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers, now of course this territory is smaller," the source said

Warehouse with containers of flammable liquids on fire in Barnaul — Emergencies ministry

As the ministry’s the regional headquarters reported, the area of the fire is 6,000 square meters

Oreshnik missile to change course of Ukrainian conflict, Medvedev believes

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

Russian, North Korean ministers of sport agree on exchanges in 2025 — KCNA

The Russian delegation has toured sports facilities and memorials in Pyongyang and viewed a Taekwondo demonstration

Russian troops mopping up enemy positions in Yelizavetovka in Donbass region — politician

On November 20, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the liberation of Ilyinka in the DPR

FACTBOX: Cargo aircraft crashes into apartment building in Vilnius, Lithuania

Twelve local residents have been evacuated from the scene

Kremlin spokesman says missiles like Oreshnik are developed in secrecy

Dmitry Peskov said that he himself did not know about this work before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced it

US did not contact Russia after use of Oreshnik missile — Deputy Foreign Minister

In his televised address to the nation on November 21, Putin stated that the United States and its NATO allies had authorized the use of long-range high-precision weapons before US and British missiles struck Russian military facilities in the bordering regions of Kursk and Bryansk

Developments in Russia’s Kursk Region: Counselling for residents, enemy’s losses

Doctors, including psychologists, are working with the Kursk Region residents that returned from Ukraine

Russian armed forces defeat Ukrainian assault Battalion Shkval in DPR

Kiev forces lost over 440 troops in battlegroup group West responsibility zone

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Abkhazia did not reach point of no return, ex-president says

Aslan Bzhania believes that the recent developments in the republic have inflicted reputational damage on it

Kremlin accuses Biden’s team of trying to thwart Trump’s efforts for settlement in Ukraine

According to the Kremlin spokesman, the Biden administration continues escalation because it is a "party of war" that sees Ukraine as a tool to fight Russia

Ukrainian military fires over 50 projectiles at Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

A self-defense member was injured after drones dropped explosive devices on the village of Gruzskoye in the Borisovsky District; a private house was damaged

German activists demand compensation from Ukraine for Nord Stream explosion

The statement’s authors stressed that blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines was not aimed at Russia alone but "above all, was directed against Germany, its interests, and economy"

Pilot killed in cargo plane crash near Lithuanian capital

According to preliminary reports, there were two pilots and two DHL employees aboard the plane en route from the German city of Leipzig

FACTBOX: What is known about Russian flight incident at Antalya Airport

A Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by the Azimuth airline caught fire as the plane landed at Antalya Airport on Sunday, TASS has compiled the key facts about the situation