MOSCOW — The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry projects oil exports to amount to 286m tons in 2006, the ministry has reported in its scenario for Russia's social and economic development submitted to the government. This year, oil exports are expected to reach 281m tons. Under the basic scenario for Russia's development, in 2007 oil exports will advance to 291m tons and in 2008 this rate will rise to 294m tons. Under a pessimistic scenario, in 2006 oil exports will total 280m tons. In 2007, this rate is projected to advance to 285m tons and in 2008 to 299m tons.

In 2004, Russia exported 182.2m tons of oil, not taking into account oil transit. The rate of growth in oil exports is expected to slow anyway from 13 percent in 2004 to 1.2 percent in 2007-2008 under both scenarios.

Gas exports are also expected to advance. In 2004, Russia exported 200bn cubic meters of gas. This amount is projected to advance to 204bn cubic meters in 2005 and 264bn cubic meters in 2008, under the pessimistic scenario. Under the basic forecasts of the economic development ministry, this rate will grow to 270bn cubic meters by 2008.