Large natural gas reserves discovered in Siberia and the Ural and Volga regions in the 1970s and 1980s enabled the Soviet Union to become a major gas producer .
A separate Soviet gas industry was created in 1943 .
Large natural gas reserves discovered in Siberia and the Ural and Volga regions in the 1970s and 1980s enabled the Soviet   to become a major gas producer .
A separate Soviet gas industry was created in 1943 .