Russian govt extends regulation for reduced gasoline sales on exchanges until end of 2026
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The Russian government has extended the regulation to reduce mandatory gasoline sales on exchanges to 10% until December 31, 2026, and the relative instruction has been signed, the government's press service said.
The regulation to reduce gasoline sales is currently valid until September 30.
The new instruction also allows implementing the standard for exchange sales of gasoline and diesel fuel to include the volume of fuel sold through targeted exchange transactions and over-the-counter supply agreements, whose end buyers are agricultural producers, organizations delivering food and goods to remote areas of the Far North, as well as construction organizations and Russian Railways.
"The decision aims to maintain stability on the domestic fuel market and ensure the availability of gasoline and diesel fuel to strategically important consumer categories," according to the press release.
The Energy Ministry said that up to 8% of the volume could be offset by confirmed targeted deliveries under the current 10% sales standard for motor gasoline, while at least 2% remains mandatory for sales to the public through exchange trading. Up to 13% could be fulfilled through targeted deliveries regarding diesel under the 16% standard, while at least 3% remains subject to mandatory sale through open exchange trading.
The ministry said that the authorized federal executive bodies would compile the list of consumers. The relevant federal executive bodies, Federal Anti-monopoly Service, Federal Tax Service, and St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange (SPIMEX) will oversee implementation as part of the existing system of interagency cooperation.
"The proposed changes aim to improve the stability of the market for domestic petroleum products. The process should minimize the effect of short-term speculative factors on pricing, reduce the risk of sharp price fluctuations, and ensure more stable supplies for socially significant consumer categories and other participants on the domestic market," Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said.
As reported, a seasonal surge in fuel consumption has coincided with a series of unscheduled maintenance work at refineries in Russia in 2026, with restrictions on sales volumes at filling stations consequently being implemented in various regions.
The government and oil companies have been taking measures to stabilize the situation, with operating refineries being fully utilized, timeframes of routine maintenance having been shortened, scheduled maintenance having been postponed, and previously accumulated fuel reserves being released to the market. Russia began importing petroleum products in July. The terms of fuel exchange trading have been changed.
Furthermore, the complete ban on gasoline exports has been extended until January 31, 2027. The ban on diesel exports for diesel producers has been extended until September 1 and for non-diesel fuel producers until January 31, 2027. The ban on exporting jet fuel also remains in effect until November 30.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak at the end of July said that the fuel market had partially stabilized, as a number of refineries had completed maintenance. However, Novak emphasized that the difficult situation remains in some regions.
