MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia produced 333 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the first half of 2006, up 2.3% year-on-year, the Ministry of Industry and Energy said Tuesday.
According to the ministry's data, energy giant Gazprom (RTS:GAZP) produced 278.2 bln cu m of gas, down 0.2% on the same period of 2005.
Domestic consumption in the first six month of the year climbed 3.2% to 213.8 bln cu m.
Russia's gas exports to CIS member countries in January-June fell 20.5% to 20.35 bln cu m, while exports to other countries expanded 5.5% to 85.14 bln cu m during the period.
