Resolution extending Russian petrol exports for producers only signed

MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - A resolution has been signed to extend the ban on Russian petrol exports until February 28, 2025, with an exception made for companies that make petroleum products, the Russian government's press service said on Saturday.

"The decision was made to preserve the stable situation on the internal fuel market, support the oil refining economy [and] counter grey exports of motor fuel," the service said.

Russia would extend the petrol export ban to February for everyone, except producers, the secretariat of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier.

A resolution banning Russian petrol exports until January 31 excluded producers. That exception will now remain throughout February.

The ban was introduced from March 1 to August 31, 2024; it was suspended from May 20 until the end of July. An exception was made for exports by producers which in 2022 refined more than one million tonnes of crude oil, under intergovernmental agreements in the framework of indicative balances.

The ban was re-imposed on September 1, until December 31 2024. After changes made to that decision last November, the ban was extended to the whole of January 2025, but excluded exports by producers which refined over one million tonnes of crude oil in 2022.