Russia allows sale of 1990s-standard petrol amid crisis

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree permitting the circulation of Euro-3 standard petrol until the end of 2026.

Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza

Details: Under the Russian government decree, certain oil refineries are permitted to release motor petrol with reduced sulphur content requirements (no more than 150 mg per kg) into circulation.

The decision was explained as a preventive measure to avoid destabilisation of the domestic fuel market.

Russian newspaper Kommersant previously reported that the Russian authorities might permit the sale of petrol and diesel with environmental standards reduced to as low as Euro-2 to address fuel supply problems.

Experts surveyed by Meduza noted that such fuel is simpler to produce, but its use may be damaging to some modern vehicles.

Euro-3 is an environmental standard introduced in the European Union in 1999, superseded by the Euro-4 standard in 2005.

All petrol stations in the Russian city of Novorossiysk ran out of petrol on 3 July and the city's Municipal Management Centre officially announced that "there is currently no petrol available at filling stations".

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