MOSCOW, July 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Kazakh national energy company KazMunaiGas Exploration Production posted on Friday a 19.4% increase in oil output to 5.9 million metric tons (43.3 million bbl) year-on-year in the first half of 2008.
The increase followed the company's purchase of a 50% stake in both the Kazgermunai and Karazhanbasmunai companies in April and December 2007, respectively.
KazMunaiGas said its oil supplies amounted to 5.731 million metric tons and oil exports reached 4.389 million metric tons in January-June 2008. The company was the ex-Soviet republic's second largest oil producing company in 2007.
It is currently developing 46 fields in western Kazakhstan. The company's proved and probable oil reserves were estimated at 240 million metric tons (1.767 million barrels) in late 2007.
