OSLO, Jan 9 Reuters Norway39;s oil output is expected to rise by 6.9 this year as the huge Johan Sverdrup field ramps up production while gas volumes are predicted to remain unchanged near record highs, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate NPD said on Monday.

Production of crude oil and other petroleum liquids such as condensate is likely to increase to 2.02 million barrels per day bpd in 2023 from 1.89 million last year, NPD39;s forecasts show.

Norway last year overtook Russia as Europe39;s biggest gas supplier, with Equinor the top exporter, after Russia39;s Gazprom cut off much of the gas on which Europe previously depended.

Investment by oil and gas producers, including for exploration, is expected to rise to 189 billion Norwegian crowns 19.1 billion this year and peak at 202 billion crowns in 2025, up from 172 billion crowns in 2022, the NPD said in a statement.

This will help to ensure that Norway can continue to be a reliable supplier of energy to Europe, said NPD Director General Torgeir Stordal.

The combined volume of oil and gas is expected to rise to 4.12 million barrels of oil equivalent per day boed in 2023, up from a preliminary 3.99 million boed last year, the NPD39;s forecasts show.

Overall Norwegian output is forecast to continue to rise in the coming years, hitting a twodecade high of 4.3 million boed in 2025, just shy of a record 4.54 million barrels produced in 2004, the NPD predicted.

The country39;s gas output is expected to stay virtually…