UPDATE - Gazprom Says Increased Gas Production By 2% To 5.6 Trillion Cubic Feet In 2019

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th April, 2019) Russian energy giant Gazprom's gas production grew by 2 percent to 158.9 billion cubic meters (5.6 trillion cubic feet) year-on-year during the period from January 1 to April 15, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

"According to preliminary data, Gazprom produced 158.9 billion cubic meters of gas from January 1 to April 15, which is an increase of 2 percent (or 3.1 billion cubic meters) compared to the corresponding period in 2018," the statement read.

Gazprom also noted that the demand for natural gas on the domestic market decreased by 4.2 percent, which corresponds to 4.4 billion cubic meters, over the given period.

However, Russian gas export to Europe and Turkey dropped by 9 percent during the same period, the company added.

"According to preliminary data, Gazprom has exported 56.6 billion cubic meters of gas to non-CIS countries.

This is a 9 percent decrease compared to the record-high numbers from the first three months and a half of 2018. Meanwhile, export to several states has increased. For example, [we exported] 18.6 percent more to Austria, 47.8 percent more to the Czech Republic, 28.2 percent more to Hungary, 3.2 percent more to Italy, and 11.7 percent more to Slovakia," Gazprom said.

The company added that its exports to Europe and Turkey amounted to 7.8 billion cubic meters in the first half of April, maintaining the same level as in the same period in 2018.

Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said in late December that the company increased gas production by 5.6 percent to 497.6 billion cubic meters in 2018. Oleg Aksyutin, a board member of Gazprom, revealed in February that the energy giant planned to produce 495.1 billion cubic meters of gas in 2019.