Bulgaria's domestic production of natural gas this year is expected to reach 490.1 million cubic metres (cu m), the country's economy ministry said.
Last year, natural gas output in Bulgaria, which consumes some 3.0 billion cu m of gas annually, stood at 443 million cu m.
Following the planned launch in the middle of next year of production at the Deventsi deposit, Bulgaria's domestic gas output is expected to increase to 574.7 million cu m in 2013 and then to 655.8 million cu m in 2014, equal to slightly over 20% of total domestic consumption, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, citing economy minister Delyan Dobrev.
Last month, the Bulgarian government awarded Sofia-based Direct Petroleum Bulgaria a 35-year concession contract for natural gas extraction from the Koynare field in northwestern Bulgaria, where the Deventsi deposit is located.