Crude oil production in the country during February this year dipped by 6.2 per cent compared to the same month in 2008, while natural gas production fell by 7.2 per cent last month.
The data released by the Petroleum Ministry showed that during February crude production was at 25,59,000 tonnes against 27,28,000 tonnes in the same month previous fiscal.
During the April-February period this fiscal crude oil production was down by 1.7 at 3,06,48,000 tonnes against 3,11,193,000 tonnes in the same period last year.
Natural gas production in February was recorded at 2,442 million cubic meters (MCM) from 2,662 MCM in the same month a year earlier. Gas production from April to February this year was up by 1.2 per cent at 30,019 MCM compared to 29,659 MCM during the 11 months of the previous fiscal.
The crude oil refineries' production in February was marginally up by 0.5 per cent at 12.85 million metric tonnes (MMT) compared with 12.78 MMT in the same month a year ago. The refineries' in April-February period went up by three per cent at 146.79 MMT against 142.56 MMT in the same period a year ago.
The utlisation of crude oil refining capacity in February was almost the same this year at 112.4 per cent compared with 112.2 per cent.