Part of Russia's Far East left without petrol

Petrol supplies have run out in the Okhotsk district in Russia's Khabarovsk Krai, the region's most remote district that is roughly the size of a small European country.

Source: The Moscow Times, an independent Amsterdam-based news outlet

Details: The only private filling station in the settlement of Okhotsk, which opened in 2018, stopped selling fuel to residents back in mid-March due to an acute shortage. Fuel is delivered to the region by sea under the Northern Supply programme from late spring to late autumn.

Local residents said petrol at the Okhotsk filling station is now supplied only to hospitals, buses and other essential services.

People have been forced to buy fuel from resellers for RUB 30,000-35,000 (US$374-436) per 200-litre drum (that is, RUB 150-175 per litre).

"Diesel is still being sold for now, but they say it may also soon be restricted for the public," a district resident said.

District head Maksim Klimov said last week that of the 900 tonnes of petrol required annually, only 500 tonnes were delivered during the navigation season, the period when waterways are open for shipping.

No more than 130 tonnes of fuel remained in reserve, designated for social care institutions, school buses, ambulances and municipal equipment.

The authorities introduced restrictions on petrol distribution to residents (around 20 litres per day), the official explained. This information was later confirmed by Dmitry Demeshin, Governor of Khabarovsk Krai.

Background: On 2 April, the Russian government announced a ban on petrol exports by fuel producers until the end of July.

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