Zabaikalsky Region Seeks Urgent Federal Aid to Combat Critical Fuel Crisis

Authorities in the Zabaikalsky region of Russia’s Far East have requested emergency support from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to address a fuel crisis that has left gas stations lacking regular supplies, as reported by the Kommersant business newspaper on Friday.

Governor Alexander Osipov has reportedly sought government assistance to expedite fuel deliveries from refineries located in the neighboring Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk regions, following weeks of delays attributed to transportation issues rather than production limitations.

The fuel shortages were initially documented last month when at least two independent fuel chains implemented gasoline rationing and subsequently faced complete shortages at several stations in Chita, the regional capital, and in the nearby industrial city of Krasnokamensk.

In recent months, similar disruptions and price increases have been observed across various Russian regions.

From January to late October, retail prices for AI-92 gasoline surged by 42%, while AI-95 rose by 49%, before experiencing a decrease of approximately 10% in early November due to a temporary export ban and other government interventions.

In response to the situation, Russia’s Energy Ministry has formulated new strategies aimed at stabilizing the domestic market, including plans to establish a dedicated fuel trading platform for end users and to mandate that oil companies allocate at least 40% of their crude oil for domestic refining.