Novak puts Russia's domestic gasoline shortage at about 5%, says situation is improving
In short
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on 16 October that a partial gasoline shortage of about 5% remains on Russia's domestic market. He said the situation is still tense but has improved over the last few weeks, with imports covering the remaining gap.
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Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that a partial gasoline shortage of about 5% persists on Russia's domestic market. TASS, RBC, Interfax and RIA Novosti all reported the estimate on 16 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Novak spoke in an interview with the Vesti information system after the Russian Energy Week forum (REN-2026) held in Moscow. "As for automotive gasoline, a fairly tense situation is still being maintained on the domestic market, although it has been improving over the last few weeks. We see this in the situation at filling stations and in the regions. Nevertheless, there is still a partial shortage on the market of about 5%," he said, as quoted by Interfax. [ 3 , 4 ]
According to Interfax, Novak said that to bring the market into balance, oil companies increased fuel production and postponed planned refinery repairs. He said imported gasoline covers the remaining shortage. Interfax wrote that authorities and oil companies are making efforts to cover the gap through higher domestic production and imports from other countries. [ 3 ]
Interfax also recalled that Novak had earlier said Russia would keep buying gasoline abroad at least until the end of this year, which he described as necessary to supply the domestic market and replenish stocks. RIA Novosti said the forum ran from 14 to 16 October and that it is the forum's information partner. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The figure is an official estimate of how large the domestic gasoline gap remains. Novak's comments that imports are covering the shortfall, and that Russia will keep buying gasoline abroad, indicate the market has not yet balanced.
Key facts
- Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the gasoline shortage on Russia's domestic market is about 5%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Novak described the domestic situation as fairly tense but improving over the last several weeks, and said this can be seen at filling stations and in the regions. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Oil companies increased fuel production and postponed planned refinery repairs, Novak said. [ 3 ]
- Imports of gasoline cover the remaining shortage, according to Novak. [ 3 ]
- Novak spoke in an interview with the Vesti information system after the Russian Energy Week forum (REN-2026) in Moscow. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax noted that Novak had earlier said Russia would keep buying gasoline abroad at least until the end of this year. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How long imports will be needed to cover the shortage Interfax recalls an earlier Novak statement that purchases abroad will continue at least until the end of this year; the other documents do not address the timing.
- Details of the oil companies' measures Only Interfax reports that companies raised fuel output and postponed planned refinery repairs, and it gives no figures.