OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2008. The Economic Development Ministry believes that gas output will climb next year, whereas oil production will drop, deputy head of the ministry Andrey Klepach said. The adjusted forecast provides for a 1.8% decline in oil output to 480 mn tons from a projected 488 mn tons in 2008. According to the ministry’s new forecasts, gas production in Russia will rise 0.8% to 670 bcm from 665 bcm expected in 2008, Klepach said at a briefing on Thursday.