16 Oct 2009 12:57

Russian gas consumption to recover to pre-crisis levels by early 2010 - Golubyev

ST. PETERSBURG. Oct 16 (Interfax) - Russian gas consumption will recover to pre-crisis levels by the beginning of 2010, Gazprom Deputy CEO Valery Golubyev said on Friday at a meeting in St. Petersburg on gas supplies in the regions.

"By the beginning of next year natural gas consumption volumes will reach pre-crisis levels," he said, noting that growth trends in gas consumption have been registered in various industries in the third quarter this year.

The biggest increase has been in the cement sector, where consumption is 150% higher than in the same period last year.

Gas consumption in the October 2008-September 2009 period totaled 333.7 billion cubic meters (bcm), 36 bcm less than in the same period a year earlier, he said.

RTS$#&: GAZP