Moscow Reintroduces Fuel Restrictions
Gazprom Neft and Tatneft gas stations limit purchases, with AI-95 prices reaching 120 rubles per liter. Russian media report a second wave of the summer fuel crisis.
Gazprom Neft and Tatneft gas stations limit purchases, with AI-95 prices reaching 120 rubles per liter. Russian media report a second wave of the summer fuel crisis.
Russia is facing a new wave of fuel shortages, with Moscow gas stations once again imposing purchase limits. Russian media speak of a "second wave" of the summer crisis, which has persisted for months following a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries and oil depots.
At Gazprom Neft stations, drivers are now limited to 40 liters of fuel per vehicle, while Tatneft restricts sales to 50 liters of gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle. The situation is particularly critical for AI-95 gasoline, which, despite prices reaching 120 rubles per liter, occasionally disappears from Moscow stations.
The Moscow Times, however, cites slightly different limits: Gazprom Neft in Moscow and the surrounding region limits regular gasoline purchases to 60 liters (16 gallons) per customer, while Tatneft, according to business outlet RBC, sells a maximum of 50 liters (13 gallons) of regular gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle. Sources thus disagree on the exact restrictions at Gazprom Neft stations.
The restrictions have returned just weeks after Gazprom Neft eased measures in 13 Russian regions earlier this month. Dozens of regions have faced fuel shortages since the start of summer, and analysts warn that supply will remain tight until summer travel demand subsides.
The Kremlin is trying to save the capital by redirecting fuel from eastern regions, but shortages are developing there as well. Shortages have never fully ceased in Siberia and the Far East, and annexed Crimea continues to face acute shortages.
On Wednesday, authorities in the republic of Bashkortostan reported that a Ukrainian drone set fire to part of an oil refinery, with repairs expected to take several days. This is just the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last month that the domestic fuel market was showing signs of "partial stabilization", but restrictions are now returning. The Russian government has extended a temporary ban on gasoline and diesel exports until early next year to protect domestic supply.
The average price of gasoline in Russia rose nearly 20 percent from the start of the year to July, and on August 10, the national average stood at 76.04 rubles per liter ($3.38 per gallon). Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev acknowledged on Tuesday that long queues were forming at gas stations but insisted that fuel was available "everywhere" in Russia.
Russia has already begun importing fuel to boost domestic supply, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin. The authorities have also adopted regulations allowing the production of lower environmental standard fuels, Euro 2, Euro 3, and Euro 4. "Imports have already begun, and the necessary regulations have been adopted to allow additional production of lower-standard fuel: Euro 2, Euro 3, and Euro 4," Novak said. Earlier, the Russian government decided to extend the import dumping duty mechanism to diesel fuel, which should provide additional economic incentives for supplying imported diesel to the domestic market if needed.
On July 30, the Russian government imposed a new temporary ban on the export of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels until January 31, 2027. The measure was introduced to maintain stability in the domestic fuel market. The government also suspended special pricing rules for public procurement of motor fuel until the end of 2026 and signed a resolution ensuring that agricultural producers receive the necessary quantities of motor fuel. Novak earlier told TASS that Russia has sufficient fuel reserves for domestic demand, but panic buying has increased demand by about 20-30%. He added that government measures to stabilize the fuel market are yielding results: restrictions have been lifted in several regions, more gas stations are operating, and queues are shortening.
According to Reuters, Gazprom Neft's customer support operator confirmed that gasoline and diesel sales at automated gas stations in Moscow are limited to 40 liters per customer. At other Gazprom Neft stations, diesel sales remain unlimited, while gasoline purchases are capped at 60 liters per vehicle. Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, said gasoline sales at all its gas stations across Russia are limited to 30 liters per vehicle, with no restrictions on diesel. The company also warned customers of longer waiting times due to increased demand. Lukoil has imposed fuel sales restrictions in Moscow and the surrounding region due to increased demand, unscheduled refinery maintenance, and the need to ensure stable operations at its gas stations, but it has not published specific limits. Tatneft's customer support confirmed that gasoline sales at its stations are limited to 50 liters per vehicle.
Shortages began intensifying in May and spread to most Russian regions by July. Although Moscow gas stations managed to ease the first wave of restrictions in June, a new wave of rationing measures is now back in force. Videos circulating on social media show long queues of vehicles outside gas stations in Moscow and several Russian regions, with frustration in some places escalating into physical altercations at the pumps.
