Russia’s Altai Republic is imposing a two-month restriction on fuel sales starting on July 1, local authorities said on Tuesday.
Regional Governor Andrey Turchak said in a statement on Telegram that the decision was made at a government meeting, and that the temporary measure seeks to prevent the emergence of artificially high prices despite “sufficient reserve stocks.”
Turchak said no more than 30 liters of gasoline and 50 liters of diesel fuel will be sold per person per day in Gorno-Altaysk, the Siberian region’s administrative center, as well as in the Mayminsky and Chemalsky districts.
“In other municipalities, no more than 50 liters of gasoline and 100 liters of diesel fuel will be sold,” Turchak added, noting they will maintain a limit of 10 liters for canister sales.
Turchak said the measures will not apply to services such as ambulances, firefighters, or the police, or to essential services and social institutions. He also called on regional residents to be understanding of the restrictions and not try to hoard fuel.
Due to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, several facilities suspended operations for maintenance, prompting Moscow to periodically impose restrictions aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel market.
Aside from the Altai Republic, restrictions on fuel sales have been imposed in several regions of Russia and in Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
Earlier this month, Ukraine's General Staff claimed its forces had struck 16 major Russian oil refineries and fuel terminals, taking more than 30% of refining capacity offline.
President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that the attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure, “are obviously creating problems."
“We are currently seeing a certain shortage, but it's not critical,” he said, stressing that all damaged energy facilities are being restored fairly quickly.
By Burc Eruygur
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
