USSR revising oil setup; '80s exports seen certain

May 13, 1980

The Soviet Union is carrying out a radical reform of its oil industry which will make it a net exporter of oil throughout the 1880's, according to Petrostudies, the Swedish research firm which specializes in monitoring the Soviet petroleum industry. The company said the reform meant a completely new economic approach to the exploitation of mineral resources in the Soviet Union, a drastic increase in domestic prices for crude oil, and more efficient exploitation of oil fields. The Swedish report directly contradicted reports by the Central Intelligence Agency that said the Soviets will have to begin importing oil in a few years.