Russia Eyes Asian Gasoline Imports amid Refinery Disruptions and Fuel Shortage — Kommersant

Russia is preparing to import gasoline from China and other Asian countries to cover a growing domestic shortage, Orda.kz reports, citing Kommersant.

The disruptions stem largely from Ukrainian drone and missile strikes disrupting operations of Russian refineries, according to The Kyiv Independent. 

According to the report, Moscow is considering fuel imports from China, South Korea, and Singapore to stabilize the domestic market.

To make this possible, the government plans to suspend import duties for fuel entering through designated Far Eastern checkpoints. The state will also subsidize importers by covering the difference between global prices and cheaper domestic rates, using federal budget funds.

Rosneft, Independent Oil and Gas Company (NNK), and the state-owned Promsyrieimport are expected to handle the shipments, which could total around 150,000 tons of gasoline per month delivered from Siberian refineries to central Russia.

Moscow is also looking to increase gasoline imports from Belarus and lift its ban on monomethylaniline — an octane-boosting additive prohibited since 2016 due to toxicity and cancer risks.

In a written report to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak warned that Russia’s fuel situation could worsen further despite the planned interventions, Kommersant said, citing the document.