Kommersant Reported a 10% Decrease in Gas Production in the First Quarter
In the first quarter of this year, gas production in Russia fell by 10% compared to the same period last year, to 180 billion cubic meters. m. This was reported by the Kommersant newspaper, citing sources familiar with the statistics.
In March, production also decreased by about 10% and amounted to 61 billion cubic meters. m. The main volume of reduction fell on “Gazprom”. Since the beginning of the year, the company stopped disclosing gas production statistics.
According to Kommersant’s sources, the production volume of “other subsoil users”, which almost completely reflects the production of Gazprom, fell by 18% in the first quarter (to 117 billion cubic meters), in March – also by 18% (to 39 billion cubic meters).
In the first quarter, Gazprom Neft also reduced production by 18% (to 8.6 billion cubic meters), in March – by 22% (to 2.3 billion cubic meters). Gazprom did not comment on this data.
At the same time, NOVATEK produced 1% more in January-March than a year earlier (20 billion cubic meters). In March, the company’s production increased immediately by 6% (up to 7 billion cubic meters).
According to Kommersant, the decline in production was the result of a significant reduction in Gazprom’s supplies to the EU countries after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. Now deliveries go only along the Turkish Stream and – at a minimum level – through the territory of Ukraine. Gazprom is increasing deliveries to China, but so far these volumes are not comparable with previous deliveries to Europe. In addition, the company is deprived of the opportunity to increase exports to the EU, because the Nord Stream gas pipeline system has been blown up, and the Yamal-Europe pipeline is under sanctions.
According to the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, last year gas production fell by almost 20% compared to 2021, and exports to non-CIS countries decreased by almost 45.5%. Based on the data on gas sales in non-CIS countries, which are indicated in the annual report of the state corporation, the drop was about 60%.
At the same time, as Miller said on December 28, the company set a new record for daily gas supplies to China. “In total, the total volume of exports to China in the very near future will amount to 48 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year. And taking into account the export transit gas pipeline through the territory of Mongolia – almost 100 billion cubic meters. m. The design capacity for today of the transit gas pipeline through Mongolia is 50 billion cubic meters. m per year,” said the head of Gazprom.
