Residents of the Far East faced a shortage of fuel due to the bankruptcy of independent gas stations fuel due to the difficult economic situation of independent gas stations. Due to the significant increase in prices in the wholesale, filling stations have to operate at a loss, Izvestia writes.
Independent filling stations are forced to set prices by 5-7 rubles higher than those of vertically integrated oil companies. As a result, the consumer chooses large networks, and the independent sector loses customers, noted the head of the Russian Fuel Union (RTS) Yevgeny Arkusha.
This leads to the bankruptcy of independent gas stations, in many regions they constitute the overwhelming majority. In addition, independent networks that are still functioning cannot recoup the goods with a stock because of the difficult financial situation and the refusal of banks to lend to such gas stations. As a result, in regions where gas stations are massively closed or reduce their range, fuel becomes less affordable for residents, long queues arise.
Earlier, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) developed measures to regulate the fuel market, which will help stabilize prices for winter diesel. The department proposes to increase the standard for the sale of diesel on the stock exchange from 7.5 to 10 percentage points. This will help build up stock during periods of high demand.