January 27, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 07, 1428

MOSCOW, Jan 26: Russian natural gas output rose 2.4 per cent in 2006 compared with 2005 to reach 656 billion cubic meters, the energy ministry said on Friday. The state-controlled company Gazprom accounted for 88.3 per cent of the production, the ministry said, without disclosing if Gazprom's own output had increased last year. Gazprom's production fell 0.2 per cent in the first half of 2006. The company has been criticised for failing to invest more in natural gas extraction.—AFP