Russian Feb oil output edges up but far from peak

Russian oil output rose to 9.46 million barrels per day in February, 30,000 bpd higher than January, but still down 190,000 bpd on record volumes reached in December, Energy Ministry data showed on Thursday.

Production in the world's second largest oil exporter has been curbed by extreme cold over the past two months and analysts say the decline might hamper the government's modest plan to boost production by 2-3 percent in 2006.

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