Russia’s government plans to extend its ban on gasoline exports through the end of the year as shortages continue to hit the domestic market, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.
“In the near future, we will extend the ban on gasoline exports until the end of the year, and a ban on diesel fuel exports by non-producers will also be introduced until the end of the year,” Novak told state media, without specifying when an official announcement would be issued.
Wholesale gasoline prices in Russia have surged in recent months, driven largely by Ukrainian drone attacks that have damaged oil refineries and forced shutdowns at several major facilities. In response, the government introduced a temporary gasoline export ban in August and September to protect domestic supplies.
Novak acknowledged that shortages persisted in some regions, which he said were being “covered by accumulated reserves.” But he cautioned that “overall, the balance for both September and October is a difficult one.”
His announcement came as authorities in annexed Crimea said they were working to address fuel scarcities on the peninsula following reports that roughly half of its filling stations had run out of fuel.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-backed head of Crimea, said in a video statement that some oil refineries were “physically not functioning,” contributing to the shortages.
“I’m asking Crimean residents and visitors to the peninsula to remain patient. This is an unavoidable situation being caused by objective factors,” Aksyonov said.
He promised that gas stations in Crimea would receive deliveries of AI-95 fuel, Russia’s standard grade of unleaded gasoline, within two days, and that supplies of the lower-octane AI-92 would be restored within two weeks.
On Thursday, the wholesale price of AI-92 reached a record high of 79,788 rubles ($952) per ton.
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