Фото: Reform.news
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak has acknowledged that fuel supply problems in Russia are linked to strikes on oil refineries.
“We must acknowledge that there are problems and there is a shortage, which is why we are seeing queues. Or sometimes filling stations operate inconsistently. The shortage is due to understandable reasons — our oil refineries are partially taken out of operation for repairs because of strikes,” he said, according to TASS.
At the same time, he said Russia has sufficient refining capacity. According to Novak, the country is fully supplied with fuel overall and is even capable of exporting it.
“We have now temporarily banned exports of gasoline and diesel fuel in order to prioritise supplies to the domestic market. We will continue taking these measures to stabilise the situation,” he said.
“We are doing everything possible, and the government is doing everything possible, to ensure facilities are operating at full capacity and production volumes remain sufficient,” he added.
Novak also said that efforts are underway to strengthen the protection of oil refineries.