Russia's federal budget revenues from energy product exports have reached 1.8 trillion rubles ($60 billion) so far this year, 31% more than for the whole of 2008, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said on Monday.
Higher-than-expected oil prices mean Russia has taken in 1.1 trillion rubles ($36.7 billion) from crude oil exports, 49% above the budgeted figure, and 350 billion rubles ($11 billion) from oil refining products, 42% above the plan, Sechin said.
Natural gas exports have been hit by lower demand in Europe, contributing 380 billion rubles ($12.3 billion) to the budget, 9% below the planned figure
Sechin said that revenues from oil exports were higher than the planned figure as Russia put three new deposits - Vankor, Talakan and Verkhechonsk - in east Siberia in operation.
Russia's oil output has hit 493 million metric tons (3.6 billion barrels) since the beginning of the year, with crude exports at 247.4 million tons (1.8 billion barrels) and petroleum product exports at 123 million tons (901 million barrels), exceeding last year's figures by 1.5%, 1.8% and 4.1% respectively, Sechin said.
At the same time, Sechin said that Russia's natural gas output had reached 575 billion cubic meters since January 1, compared with 663 billion cu m for all of 2008.
"The figure for gas output is 575 billion cu m. We are suffering the biggest losses in this sector and here we have to carry out energetic work to preserve our markets," Sechin told a government meeting with the president on energy issues.
GORKI, December 14 (RIA Novosti)
