“According to the current data, the Company produced 508.6 billion cubic meters of gas in 2010, which is 47.1 billion cubic meters more versus 2009 and comparable to annual deliveries of Russian gas to Germany and France together.

The growing domestic demand certainly became a determinant factor. All market players sold 413.5 billion cubic meters of gas to consumers via the Unified Gas Supply System in 2010. I will remind that in 2009 this parameter was almost 5 per cent lower – 394 billion cubic meters. Notably, gas consumption considerably grew in the power, metallurgical and agrochemical industries, while the cement industry increased gas purchase by almost 18 per cent.

If the Russian economy recovery rate persists, we will be able to reach the pre-crisis gas production level by late 2011.”