In the face of the fuel crisis, the Russian government intends to introduce significant changes in customs and price policy. According to Moscow Times, Moscow plans to abolish import duties to fuel imported by selected checkpoints, as well as compensating for price differences between global and local markets.
An important element of the Kremlin strategy is also to increase the supply of gasoline from Belarus. As part of these activities, it is considered to lift the ban on using a chemical additive in the refineries, which significantly increases gasoline performance. This substance, due to its high toxicity, has been banned in numerous countries, including in Russia, from 2016.
Russian refineries. Decrease in activity
The “Kommiersant” daily points out that at the end of September Russian refineries recorded a decrease in activity – as much as 38 percent. Their processing power remained unused. For 70 percent This loss was corresponded to the attacks of Ukrainian drones, which in the last two months fired over 20 key factories in Russia.
The authorities hope that Thanks to the import of Asia and Belarus and the loosening of environmental standards, an additional 350,000 will appear on the domestic market. tons of gasoline and 100,000 tons of diesel per month.
An immeasurably different step in response to the crisis was the extension of the current ban on gasoline exports by the end of 2023. Russia – until recently one of the leading fuel exporters – will now be forced to rely on international cooperation to secure their own energy needs.
