APG utilization rate fell for past 7 years, stood at 82.4% in 2023 - Russian Natural Resources Ministry

MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - The utilization rate for associated petroleum gas (APG) has fallen for the past seven years and stood at 82.4% at the end of 2023, according to a government report on the condition and protection of the natural environment in Russia in 2023, which was published on the Natural Resources Ministry's website.

"The beneficial use of APG is one of the most important areas for reducing the environmental impact of oil production, as burning APG leads to the degradation of plant communities and soils around the burning site. The Russian Federation's Energy Strategy for the period until 2035, approved by Russian government order no.1523-r dated June 9, 2020, envisages the removal of key infrastructural, technological and other restrictions on the rational use of APG and minimizing its burning volumes. The average beneficial use of APG in Russia in 2023 was 82.4%," the document said.

The highest APG utilization rates in the last 7 years were achieved in 2017 and 2018, when it stood at 86.8% and 85.1%, respectively, the report said, citing data from the CDU TEK federal state budgetary institution and the Energy Ministry. Following this, the level of APG utilization fluctuated. In 2019 it was 81.5%, in 2020 - 82.6%, in 2021 - 83.6% and in 2022 - 82.5%. The target utilization rate for APG in Russia is 95%, it said.

It was previously planned that a 95% APG utilization rate would be achieved by 2025, but the authorities later abandoned these plans, saying that such a level of utilization would not be feasible due to the introduction of new projects. For new fields, it was expected that APG would be effectively utilized in accordance with design and technological documents on developing these fields.