Russian oil output down 0.8%, gas down 10.5% in Jan. year-on-year

MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's crude production in January declined 0.8% year-on-year to 41 million metric tons (300.5 million barrels), while natural gas output fell 10.5% to 55.2 billon cubic meters, the Federal Statistics Service said on Monday.

Primary crude processing decreased 2.8% against January 2008 to 19.3 million tons and declined 0.3% against December 2008.

Natural gas production in January declined 4% against December.

The Energy Ministry's central dispatch department for the fuel and energy complex said earlier this month that crude exports in January fell 2.3% year-on-year to 20.2 million tons, while gas exports plunged 74.1% to 12.35 billion cu m.

Gas production and exports were hit by the gas dispute with Ukraine.