34 percent jump in natural-gas exports

Russian gas giant Gazprom is reporting a nearly 34 percent jump in natural-gas exports for March.

The state-controlled company said on April 2 that March exports outside the Commonwealth of Independent States came to almost 12.5 billion cubic meters, a 33.6 percent increase over the same period in 2012.

Gazprom chief Aleksei Miller announced on April 1 that his company was enjoying a "gas boom" and that the increased exports confirmed Gazprom's reputation for reliable supplies of gas.

Speaking about gas exports to Europe, Miller said, "No one but us could supply these volumes to the European market."