RusEnergy

MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian natural gas production for the first half of 2005 grew by 3789.1 million cubic meters, or 1.1 %, to a total of 372,905.1 million cbm. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom produced 85% of Russia's natural gas, with 319,365.2 million cbm, up by 1385.3 million cbm (0.4 %) from the same period last year. Domestic consumption of natural gas reached 226,413.3 million cbm, an increase of 2553.3 million cbm (1.1 %) compared with last year's period. Gas exports aggregated 92,212,4 million cbm, up by 8802.3 million cbm (9 %) compared with the first half of 2004.