Russia’s gas production sharply declines after transit through Ukraine is cut off
28 March 16:27
Gas production in Russia is declining amid the cessation of fuel transit to Europe through Ukraine, Komersant ukrainskyi reports, citing Russian media.
Thus, in February, production volumes in Russia decreased by 11.3% year-on-year, amounting to 57.2 billion cubic meters. At the same time, the rate of decline in February was much higher than in January, when it amounted to 3% compared to the same period last year.
In total, 131 billion cubic meters of gas were produced in Russia in the first two months of 2025, which is 7.3% less than in the same period in 2024.
The largest drop was recorded in the category of “other producers,” which almost completely reflects the performance of Gazprom. In February, production in this group decreased by 13.2% compared to the same period in 2024, to 38.2 bcm. For the first two months of 2025, the decline was 8%, with volumes dropping to 81.5 bcm.
In February, NOVATEK, a major gas producer, cut production by 1.5% to 6.4 bcm, and in January-February by 1.4% to 13.6 bcm. In February, LUKOIL’s production decreased by 13.3% to 1.3 billion cubic meters, and since the beginning of the year – by 9.7% to 2.8 billion cubic meters. “In February, Rosneft cut gas production by 14% to 5.5 billion cubic meters, and by 12% to 11.6 billion cubic meters over the first two months of the year. In February, Gazprom Neft’s production fell by 8.3% to 2.2 billion cubic meters, while in January-February the decline was 5%, to 4.8 billion cubic meters.
The decline in gas production in Russia continues amid declining exports to Europe and restrictions related to the termination of transit through Ukraine, which has exacerbated the crisis in the Russian gas industry.
However, despite the decline in production , Russians plan to return their gas to Europe, with the help of American business. And Europe wants to buy Russian gas again. Now “for the sake of Ukraine”.
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Europe and Russian gas
As of early 2022, the EU was 40% dependent on Russian gas. In 2021, 65% of the gas purchased by Germany was Russian. In the third quarter of 2023, only 12% of the gas imported by the EU remained Russian.
At the same time, some EU countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, remain dependent on Russian gas. These countries’ contracts with Gazprom provide for gas supplies through the Ukrainian gas transportation system. Austria has signed a contract for gas supplies until 2040, but it has already declared that it has gotten rid of its dependence on Russian fuel.
Previously, it was believed that after both Nord Stream and the Ukrainian gas transportation system were shut down, Russia would be able to supply gas to Europe only through the Turkish Stream.
According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the European Union has purchased 207 billion euros worth of energy from Russia.
