Russian fuel importers will also receive damper payments, total amount of payments will not change due to reduced refining

MOSCOW. Oct 15 (Interfax) - Fuel importers will also receive damper payments, and due to reduced refining, the total amount for the budget will not change, Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Sazanov told journalists.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the government had decided to reduce import duties on fuel to zero. It was previously reported that it is assumed importers will also be paid the damper when adopting such a measure.

Sazanov confirmed that the damper will be paid to importers.

"Yes, of course [it will]," he said.

These payments are budgeted, he said. "We had certain refining levels budgeted. Now they are reduced, and instead, imports will come. Therefore, the total amount of damper payments will not change, as consumption of fuel in the domestic market is more or less stable from year to year. Therefore, there will be neither additional expenses nor savings," he said.