Russia Seeks 50,000 Tons of Gasoline Imports as Drone Strikes Cut Output 25%
Updated
Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 30
Russia Seeks 50,000 Tons of Gasoline Imports as Drone Strikes Cut Output 25%
3 articles · Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 30
Summary
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is actively negotiating gasoline imports and will proceed if it can secure acceptable prices, confirming emergency supply talks after fuel shortages worsened.
Ukrainian drone attacks have forced shutdowns at several large refineries, cutting Russian gasoline production by 25% and prompting fuel rationing across the country and in annexed Crimea.
Vladimir Putin said gasoline reserves stood at 1.7 million metric tons, down 4% from a year earlier, while Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak called imports a key step to stabilize the market.
Lawmakers last week approved tax-code changes to subsidize gasoline imports, and Reuters had reported talks over 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 fuel from Kazakhstan, though Astana said no formal request had arrived.
Gasoline prices have risen 9.8% this year to 71.20 rubles a liter after a record 3% weekly jump, straining supplies during the summer travel and farming seasons.