Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Apr. 5 -- Prior to the outbreak of domestic political troubles in March, Kyrgyzstan planned first quarter oil production of 17,300 tonnes, unchanged from 2004, and natural gas production of 7.5 million cu m, down 6.2%.
In January and February, state-owned Kyrgyzneftegaz produced 10,600 tonnes of oil, up 2% year-on-year, while natural gas production dropped 7.4% year-on-year in the 2-month period to 5 million cu m.
Kyrgyzstan increased oil production by 5.8% last year to 72,900 tonnes and raised natural gas production by 4.8% to 29.1 million cu m.
In mid-March, a popular uprising ended President Askar Akayev's regime and installed former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev as interim head of state, pending elections.
