Russia Confronts New Fuel Shortages Amid Disruptions from Refinery Attacks
Fuel shortages have reemerged in Russia, prompting authorities in at least 10 regions to impose tighter restrictions on petrol sales. This situation follows a new wave of drone attacks on oil refineries, which have strained supply chains. Reports indicate that petrol was unavailable at some filling stations in the Moscow region, while diesel remained accessible at most locations.
The current shortages come just weeks after Russia had managed to alleviate a previous fuel crisis that began in May and escalated by July. That disruption was triggered by drone attacks that forced several refineries to shut down during a period of rising seasonal fuel demand. In response, the government had restricted fuel exports, relaxed quality requirements, and imported petroleum products to bolster domestic supplies. By late July, fuel availability had improved, and some regions had lifted or eased restrictions.
However, a new series of drone attacks targeting Russian refineries in late July and early August has once again disrupted production. This has led regional authorities to reintroduce measures to control fuel sales. The Russian government acknowledged on Friday that fuel supplies remain challenging in several regions, including Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, and Krasnodar.
The impact of these shortages is also evident in wholesale markets. Average gasoline sales on the St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange have dropped by 20% since the beginning of August compared to the latter half of July. These fuel shortages reveal the vulnerability of Russia’s domestic energy market to ongoing attacks on refining infrastructure, which coincide with seasonal demand and existing export restrictions.
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