The strikes not only disrupted facilities, but also led to gasoline shortages in a number of Russian regions.
The Novokuibyshevsk, Saratov, Samara, Volgograd and Syzran refineries completely halted production. Afipsky, Slavyansky and Novoshakhtinsky plants were also attacked. The Ust-Luga plant, which processes gas condensate into fuel oil and kerosene, was shut down.
The affected plants lost only part of their capacity, but this may create problems with fuel supplies inside Russia.
Reuters forecasts that Russia is expecting gasoline supply disruptions in August and September. Private gas station chains this year have not built up sufficient reserves for the period of high demand, as they have done in the past. In winter and spring, during the period of low prices, gas stations did not buy gasoline in advance because of sharply rising credit prices.
In 2024, after raids on oil refineries, authorities classified statistics on gasoline production and then diesel production. According to Reuters estimates, last year the volume of oil refining in Russia fell to a 12-year low of 269.9 million tons.
The Russian government imposed a ban on gasoline exports until the end of August. The decision was made “to maintain a stable situation on the domestic fuel market during the period of high seasonal demand and agricultural field work.”
A ban on gasoline exports is in effect until August 31 for non-producers – traders, oil depots and small refineries.
