Fuel Shortages Spread Across Ten Russian Regions as Refineries Shut Down

Gasoline shortages affected at least ten Russian regions in August, creating supply gaps for motorists and farmers. Regional authorities have increased monitoring of gas station sales to manage the scarcity, but officials warn that conditions may worsen in September as several major oil refineries enter scheduled maintenance. The domestic shortage is compounded by a collapse in imports from Belarus. The Naftan refinery in Novopolotsk is undergoing servicing, which has severely restricted shipments to Russia. In the first half of August, volumes of Belarusian fuel dropped to 21,000 tons, down from previous levels of 165,000 tons. To mitigate the gap, Russian authorities banned domestic gasoline exports and shifted toward foreign procurement. This adaptation included an import of approximately 30,000 tons of AI-92 from Morocco in late July. Currently, Russia is importing fuel from India, with a recent shipment totaling 68,000 tons and two additional batches expected.