Russian companies produced 23.9 million tons of oil in February (6.8% more than in the same period of last year) and 2.3 billion cubic meters of associated gas (4.2% more than in the same period of last year).

The Russian Statistical Agency reports that the average daily oil production in January-February 2000 increased by 10.9% in the Arkhangelsk Region, 5.9% in the Saratov Region, 4.1% in the Sakhalin Region and 3.9% in the Republic of Tatarstan and the Tyumen Region (the main oil producing region in Russia). The oil production reduced by 1.4-4.0% in the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Samara Region and the Volgograd Region. 13.7 tons of oil were preliminary refined in February. Two million tons of gasoline, 3.9 million tons of diesel fuel, 4.0 million tones of fuel oil and 196,000 tons of lubricating oil were produced. The production of lubricating oil rose most significantly (by 47.3%) compared to last February. The production of fuel oil increased by 6.1%, the production of gasoline rose by 4.6%, the production of diesel fuel rose by 11% and the volume of refined oil increased by 7.5%.