FX.co ★ Russia no longer world’s top gas reserves holder

British BP's Statistical Review of World Energy says that as of 2012, Russia’s proved reserves of natural gas are estimated at 32.9 trillion cubic meters versus 44.6 trillion cubic meters at the end of 2011.
Thus, Iran headed the list of the word’s gas-rich countries with 33.6 trillion cubic meters proved gas reserves. A year earlier, Tehran was second with 33.1 trillion cubic meters. BP has significantly downgraded Turkmenistan natural gas reserves estimate to 17.5 trillion cubic meters from 24.3 trillion. The energy giant also cut its reserves estimates for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
Total world proved reserves estimate was slashed to 187.3 trillion cubic meters from 208.4 trillion. As a result, the world now lacks 21 trillion cubic meters (or 10%) of natural gas, which would be enough for continuous use for seven years.
According to Reuters, the reason for such a sharp drop in BP's estimate was not immediately clear.
The proved natural gas reserves of Gazprom, Russia’s gas market leader, remained unchanged at 19 trillion cubic meters. The reserves of Novatek, Russia's second-largest natural gas producer, have increased to an annualized 1.76 trillion cubic meters from 1.32 trillion.