Report: Russia’s gas output rises 10–10.5% to 761 bcm in 2021

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (PRIME) – Russia’s production of natural gas rose by 10–10.5% on the year to 761 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2021, while exports increased by 4%, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said in an interview to Rossiya 24 television channel broadcast on Wednesday.

“As for production of gas, including natural gas and associated petroleum gas, it will amount to 761 billion cubic meters, which is a 10–10.5% increase, and expected growth of exports is 4%,” he said.

Power production in the country should amount to 1.131 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) after 1.064 trillion kWh in 2020, while consumption of power increased by 5.4% to 1.106 trillion kWh, he said.

Shulginov also said that the ministry supported reduction of coal mines’ dangerousness to an average level or development of a program to close dangerous mines. Following the November tragedy at the Listvyazhnaya mine, the government started working on additional measures to improve safety and security of mines.

“At the same time, we have to take measures to bring at least to an average category the mines that are considered dangerous or highly dangerous. If we fail to do that, we will have to draft a program to close these mines, especially the mines with tough conditions,” he said.

End %%md/jst%%