Uzbekistan is not experiencing a gasoline shortage - Energy Minister
SAMARKAND. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan is not experiencing a gasoline shortage; the restrictions introduced by the Antimonopoly Committee are necessary to prevent manipulation of fuel prices, Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov told reporters on the sidelines of the 16th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum.
"These restrictions have been introduced so that prices are not manipulated, so that gasoline is available to the public. This is not related to volumes. (...) There is no shortage," Mirzamakhmudov said.
According to the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights of Uzbekistan, in August, because of a rise in gasoline prices, the ministry limited its maximum purchase volume on the exchange to five tonnes. This measure, as well as an increase in supply, led to a decrease in exchange prices of 10%, which made it possible to increase the maximum purchase volume to 10 tonnes as of October 17.
Gasoline continues to flow to Uzbekistan, including from Russia, as part of the signed intergovernmental agreement, Mirzamakhmudov said.
Russia's Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov also previously confirmed negotiations on a possible change in the indicative balances for the supply of petroleum products. These volumes are not subject to the Russia's current gasoline export ban. The Russian minister said that CIS countries regularly request increases or decreases in indicative balances. This issue was a topic of discussion with the authorities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Energy Forum, Shulginov said.
As of September 21, Russia has banned the export of diesel fuel and gasoline. There is an exception in place for supplies to EAEU countries based on their indicative balances or protocols provided for by intergovernmental agreements, etc.
On October 6, exports of diesel fuel shipped to seaports by pipeline were permitted, as long as the manufacturer supplies at least 50% of the produced diesel fuel to the domestic market. The export of gasoline is completely prohibited.