Russian Gas Exports Show Decline

Russian gas exports in 2008 were little changed from the 2007 level of about 195 Bcm but gas production and exports have fallen in recent months.

In the first quarter of 2009, production slid 15%. Gas export levels in January 2009 fell to less than half of the level a year earlier, due in part to a shutdown in gas deliveries caused by the Ukraine gas crisis. Gazprom expects the volume of exports to contract nearly 20% in 2009.