MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed relevant government agencies, regional authorities and companies to continue efforts to ensure supplies of petroleum products to the domestic market and monitor fuel prices, the Russian government announced following a meeting on the fuel market situation.

It was also noted that Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) had issued 52 warnings and opened 28 cases related to pricing on the fuel market.

The situation on Russia's fuel market remains fully under control, with any regional difficulties being addressed promptly, First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin told Vesti.

TASS has compiled the key facts about the current situation.

Meeting

  • At the meeting, the Agriculture Ministry reported on fuel supplies to agricultural enterprises and trends in petroleum product prices, the government said.

  • It was noted that the situation is gradually stabilizing, while harvesting operations continue across all regions of the country.

  • The Energy Ministry presented a report on the current balance of supply and demand on the fuel market, as well as trends in petroleum product output.

  • Regional representatives reported on measures to ensure fuel availability, with particular attention given to the situations in the republics of Tyva, Altai, and Sakha (Yakutia), the Krasnoyarsk and Altai territories, as well as Simferopol and Sevastopol.

  • Particular attention was paid to fuel deliveries under the Northern Supply Haul program.

  • Novak instructed relevant government agencies, regional authorities and industry companies to continue coordinated efforts to supply the domestic market with sufficient volumes of petroleum products, monitor the pricing situation and ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to consumers.

  • Earlier, the deputy prime minister told TASS that Russia had accumulated sufficient fuel supplies to meet domestic demand, but panic buying had driven demand up by about 20%-30%.

  • He also said the government's measures to stabilize the fuel market were producing results, with limits already being lifted in a number of regions, the number of operating gas stations increasing, and queues shortening.

FAS statements

  • The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service issued 52 warnings and opened 28 cases related to pricing on the fuel market, the government said following the meeting.

  • The FAS also reported a downward trend in fuel prices at independent gas stations.

Statements by the deputy energy minister

  • Russia's fuel market is being kept under control thanks to a package of government measures and the daily involvement of all participants in the process, First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin told Vesti.

  • At the same time, he acknowledged that the situation remains challenging.

  • Sorokin said the measures include maximizing production, using alternative fuel supply channels and allocating fuel supplies during the most critical periods.

  • He said the Energy Ministry plans to promptly resolve the issue of additional fuel deliveries to Siberia and the Far East, while ensuring supplies to agricultural producers and northern regions remains a priority.

  • According to Sorokin, the situation on Russia's fuel market is fully under control, and any regional difficulties are being resolved promptly.