Russian Companies to Boost Gas Production in Crimea – Medvedev
MOSCOW, MARCH 24 (RIA Novosti) – Russian companies could double gas production in Crimea in the next few years in a bid to secure the region’s energy independence, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.
State-controlled Gazprom has already laid out plans for the increase, Medvedev said at a government meeting to discuss social and economic development in Crimea, which became part of Russia last week but depends upon Ukraine for critical utilities.
“According to expert analysis, this should cover Crimea’s electricity demands,” Medvedev said. “Gazprom has an initiative for this.”
According to official data, about 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas are extracted annually in the region, which is home to some of the largest offshore Black Sea deposits of oil and gas.
Although Crimea’s reunification treaty with Russia entered into force last week, the peninsula still relies heavily on energy supplies from mainland Ukraine.
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140324/188711794/Russian-Companies-to-Boost-Gas-Production-in-Crimea--Medvedev.html
