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Russia prohibits gasoline exports for 6 months from March 1

Russia on Tuesday ordered a. sixmonth ban on gasoline exports from March 1 to keep costs. steady amidst rising need from consumers and farmers and to. permit upkeep of refineries worldwide's 2nd. biggest oil exporter.

The restriction, first reported by Russia's RBC, was validated by a. spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, President. Vladimir Putin's point guy for Russia's large energy sector.

RBC, citing an unidentified source, said Prime Minister. Mikhail Mishustin had approved the ban after Novak proposed it. in a letter dated Feb. 21. A 2nd source told that the. choice had been made however the decree had actually not yet been released.

In order to balance out extreme need for petroleum items,. it is necessary to take steps to help support prices in the. domestic market, Novak was priced estimate as saying in his proposition by. RBC.

Domestic gas costs are sensitive for drivers and. farmers on the planet's biggest wheat exporter ahead of a March. 15-17 presidential election, while some Russian refineries have. been struck by Ukrainian drone attacks in recent months.

Russia and Ukraine have actually targeted each other's energy. infrastructure in a bid to disrupt supply lines and logistics. and demoralise their opponents, as they seek the edge in a. almost two-year-old conflict that shows no sign of ending.

Exports of oil, oil items and gas are by far Russia's. most significant export, a significant source of foreign currency income for. Russia's $1.9 trillion economy, and make sure that Moscow has a. place at the top table of worldwide energy politics.

The Kremlin has actually been working with Saudi Arabia, the world's. biggest oil exporter, to keep costs high as part of the wider. OPEC+ grouping that includes the Organization of the Petroleum. Exporting Countries and essential allies.

Russia is already voluntarily cutting its oil and fuel. exports by 500,000 barrels daily in the first quarter as part. of OPEC+ efforts to support costs.

GAS

The leading fuel producers in Russia in 2023 were Gazprom. Neft's Omsk refinery, Lukoil's NORSI oil. refinery in Nizhny Novgorod and Rosneft's Ryazan. refinery.

Russia in 2023 produced 43.9 million tons of gasoline and. exported about 5.76 million lots, or around 13% of its. production. The biggest importers of Russian gas are primarily. African counties, including Nigeria, Libya, Tunisia and likewise. United Arab Emirates.

Russia last month lowered gasoline exports to. non-Commonwealth of Independent States countries to compensate. for unplanned repair work at refineries amid fires and drone attacks. on its energy facilities.

Failures include the stop of a system at NORSI, the nation's. fourth largest refinery, situated near the city of Nizhny. Novgorod, some 430 km (270 miles) east of Moscow, following what. is thought to be a technical occurrence.

Last year, Russia banned gas exports in between September. and November in order to tackle high domestic costs and. lacks.

This time, the ban will not encompass member states of the. Eurasian Economic Union, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and 2. Russian-backed breakaway regions of Georgia - South Ossetia and. Abkhazia.

Wholesale fuel prices in Russia have actually risen considering that the start. of the year. According to Feb. 26 rates on the St Petersburg. worldwide mercantile exchange (SPIMEX), 92-octane fuel. had risen by 22% because Jan 1, while 95-octane gas was up by. 32%. Given that the announcement of the export restriction, 92 has fallen. 3.3%.

The cost of 95 gasoline in Russia has to do with 62 U.S. cents. per litre, compared to more than $2.05 in western Europe.

= 91.7530 roubles). ($ 1 = 0.9212 euros)