Russia lowers gas production forecast
The Russian Economy Ministry has lowered the natural gas production forecast from 722bn cubic meters to 717bn cubic meters, Andrei Klepach, the head of the Russian Economy Ministry's macroeconomic forecasting department, told journalists today RBC reports. According to him, this forecast will be included in the general forecast of Russia's development for 2008-2010. The government and the cabinet will review the forecast on April 12 and April 19, 2007 respectively. Klepach pointed out that the lowering in the forecast is attributed to Gazprom's estimate on gas output in Russia. According to the gas giant's forecast, gas output of Gazprom and independent gas producers will amount to 710bn-712bn cubic meters by 2010.