Germany's 2016 oil output stable, gas down 8.1 percent -industry

FRANKFURT, March 2 (Reuters) - Germany produced 2.4 million tonnes of oil in 2016, unchanged on the previous year, while natural gas output fell by 8.1 percent to 7.9 billion cubic metres (bcm), industry association BVEG data showed on Thursday.

German producers include BEB Erdgas und Erdoel, Mobil Erdgas-Erdoel (XOM.N) (RDSa.L) , DEA, formerly part of RWE (RWEDE.UL) and Engie E&P Deutschland (ENGIE.PA) .

BASF's Wintershall (BASFn.DE) produces modest gas volumes at home but more abroad, and leads in domestic crude oil.

BVEG member firms had a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in Germany, down from 2.5 billion a year earlier, reflecting dwindling reserves.

German gas producers have been trying to keep up production but have been involved in years of debate over the use of fracking technology to access untapped shale gas reserves.

Last summer, the government passed a law imposing limits on fracking. (L8N19E3EX)

BVEG members now have to contend with a slowdown in the licencing of new projects.

Germany sourced 8 percent of its gas demand from domestic sources last year, down from 10 percent in 2015, while importing the rest. (GAS/DE)

It can store 24.2 bcm of gas underground.

Below are rounded-off annual figures for the industry:

Gas production 2016 2015

Gas production 27.5 bcm 25.5 bcm

of which indigenous 7.9 bcm 8.6 bcm

abroad 19.6 bcm 16.9 bcm

Oil production 10.5 mln T 8.4 mln T

- indigenous 2.4 mln T 2.4 mln T

- abroad 8.1 mln T 6.0 mln T

Exploration taxes paid 220 mln 364 mln

Domestic reserves

- gas 68.0 bcm 68.0 bcm

- oil 33.8 bcm 33.8 bcm

Estimated gas reserves* 65.7 bcm 68.1 bcm

Estimated oil reserves* 31.7 mln T 33.8 mln T