Ukraine extracts 2.3% more gas in H1
KYIV. July 17 (Interfax) - Gas production in Ukraine increased 2.3% year-on-year to 10.380 billion cubic meters (bcm) in the first half, including a 2.5% rise to 10.001 bcm for natural gas, the country's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry told Interfax.
Ministry sources said national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy's enterprises increased output 2.4% to 9.306 bcm, including 2.6% more natural gas - 8.975 bcm.
Ukrgazvydobuvannya output was down 0.8% at 7.615 bcm, including 1% to 7.593 bcm for natural gas. Ukrnafta produced 955.32 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas, down 3.8%, and 746.47 mcm of natural gas, down 4.9%. Chernomornaftogaz increased natural gas output 35.7% to 735.97 mcm.
Other companies operating in Ukraine increased gas output 1.3% to 1.074 bcm, natural gas output 2% to 1.026 bcm. Naftogazvydobuvannya produced 241.721 mcm (down 36.1%), the energy services company Esko-Pivnich produced 165.098 mcm (up 100%), Prirodniye Resursy 148.33 mcm (up 47%), Kub-GAZ 132.497 mcm (up 29.4%), and Poltava Gas and Oil Company 108.707 mcm (down 32.2%).
Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavitsky has said Ukraine plans to increase gas production 3%-5% this year to 20.785-21.185 bcm thanks to state-sector enterprises making up Naftogaz Ukrainy, whose share of total gas-extraction is about 90%.
There was 20.185 bcm of gas produced in Ukraine last year, 0.4% more than in 2011, including 19.396 bcm of natural gas, 0.6% more. Naftogaz Ukrainy accounted for 18.207 bcm, up 0.5%.