Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has directed major oil companies to increase fuel deliveries to the Irkutsk and Trans-Baikal regions to address rising domestic demand.
The instruction, issued on July 3, targets specific logistical bottlenecks in Siberia and the Russian Far East, signaling a government effort to stabilize regional supply chains amid seasonal consumption shifts.
The intervention reflects broader challenges in Russia’s energy sector, which has seen its contribution to gross domestic product decline to 13% from a previous range of 18% to 20%.
The directive focuses on ensuring that vertically integrated oil producers prioritize these areas to prevent local shortages.
Novak’s office emphasized the need for rapid fulfillment of domestic requirements, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining fuel availability in remote and economically significant regions.
This move follows previous statements by Novak regarding price controls at service stations, where he noted that major producers are keeping prices within inflation limits while independent stations face higher costs.
The intervention reflects broader challenges in Russia’s energy sector, which has seen its contribution to gross domestic product decline to 13% from a previous range of 18% to 20%.