Russia considers exchange-only sales of lower-environmental-class fuel

Russian authorities are considering requiring fuel in lower environmental classes to be sold only through an exchange, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on October 15. He spoke on the sidelines of Russian Energy Week in Moscow. Novak said the proposal had been reviewed with companies and the Energy Ministry at a meeting on petroleum products. The reports described the measure as a matter under discussion. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Novak said routing the fuel through an exchange would help make transactions transparent and show where supplies were being delivered. He also said the fuel should be labelled so consumers could identify it. RIA Novosti reported that the proposal concerned lower-environmental-class fuels, with its headline referring to standards below Euro-5. The agency said Russian Energy Week was taking place in Moscow from October 14 to 16. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Interfax linked the discussion to fuel-supply measures taken after a summer seasonal increase in consumption coincided with a series of unplanned refinery repairs. It reported that different Russian regions had introduced limits on fuel sales at filling stations. The government adopted several measures to add supplies to the market, including a decree temporarily permitting filling stations to sell petrol and diesel in environmental classes K2, K3, K4 and K5 from September 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, according to Interfax. [ 3 ]

Vedomosti also described earlier steps allowing lower-class petrol production and sales. It reported that the government had required filling stations to display information about the environmental class of the fuel they sold so consumers could make an informed choice. Those existing labelling requirements form part of the policy background reported alongside Novak's comments about the proposed exchange-only approach. [ 4 ]