The Russian government has authorized the temporary production, import and sale of low-grade gasoline that was banned more than a decade ago, the Energy Ministry said Thursday, framing the move as an “anti-crisis measure” amid a nationwide fuel shortage.
Under a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 standard fuels will be allowed to be sold on the market through July 1, 2027.
Russia originally banned Euro-2 fuel in 2013 due to high pollutant levels, completing a transition to cleaner Euro-5 standards in 2016. Euro-2 gasoline permits up to 50 times more sulfur than Euro-5 fuel.
High sulfur concentrations degrade engine components and exhaust systems. Environmental experts also warn that burning lower-grade fuel increases smog and acid rain, exacerbating respiratory conditions such as asthma in urban centers.
The Energy Ministry framed the rollback as an “anti-crisis measure to strike a balance between fuel quality standards and consumer availability.”
It said gas stations will be required to “clearly and visibly” display the environmental class of the fuel at the pump, allowing drivers to make an “informed choice” about their purchases.
The move comes as authorities continue to try to stabilize the domestic fuel market following a series of damaging Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries and storage hubs.
Last month, the Russian government extended a ban on gasoline and diesel exports through the end of next January.
The average price of gasoline in Russia has climbed 17.7% since the start of the year, but dipped by 1.4% over the past week. A single-week decrease lowered the national average to 77.69 rubles per liter ($3.61 per gallon) as of Monday, Aug. 3.
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