Crimean Ministry of Energy: Fuel on the peninsula will last until start of November
Vadim Belik, Russian-controlled Minister of Fuel and Energy of annexed Crimea, told Krymskaya Gazeta in an interview that the fuel reserves at the gas stations on the peninsula will last for 35 days. According to him, there is no longer any deficit.
“In November this year, a minimum reserve of oil products amounting to at least 10,000 tons will be established at the Feodosia oil depot. The urgent need to have such a reserve arose due to possible interruptions in deliveries and the movement of tankers along the North Caucasus Railway to the territory of the Republic of Crimea. Other extraordinary circumstances may also arise. The reserve fuel will be purchased by Chornomorneftegaz,” Belik added.
In the middle of September, the Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Crimea announced that a work group was being organized to monitor the prices and the quality of the fuel. This was the Crimean Fuel and Energy Ministry’s reaction to Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov’s criticism on September 6 that the prices and quality of fuel in Crimea are unacceptable.
Fuel is delivered to Crimea across the Kerch ferry crossing. The prices at gas stations on the peninsula are higher on average than in neighboring Russia, due to transport logistics and other considerations.
In August, the Crimean Ministry of Energy said that the gasoline deficit was due to increased demand, bad weather at the ferry crossing, and Russian railway restrictions: the department did not include oil products on the list of goods with priority status.