Russia's prices for retail fuel remain stable; no shortage on petroleum products market - departments

MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) - Fuel prices at Russia's filling stations remain stable, and there is no shortage on the domestic market for petroleum products, with the relevant departments citing the data during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

"According to the Energy Ministry and the Federal Anti-monopoly Service (FAS), fuel prices in the retail segment remain stable, and there is no shortage. The domestic market is fully supplied with gasoline and diesel fuel. Deliveries to agricultural producers are going according to plan during the sowing campaign, with all requests from farmers being met," according to the press release.

Novak has also instructed that the Energy Ministry and the FAS monitor fuel prices in the country overall and in individual regions, including the Far Eastern Federal District. He has also instructed to ensure the regularity and uniformity of sales of gasoline and diesel fuel on the SPB Exchange to meet consumer requests during increased summer demand and to work out timely delivery to customers by railway.

"I request that you pay attention to the matter of railway car downtime during transportation of petroleum products. This is unprofitable for both the oil companies and Russian Railways. I request that you identify those responsible for these cases and establish a process for the timely delivery of goods to customers when interacting with market participants," Novak said in the press release.

Novak thanked Russian Railways, the Transport Ministry and oil companies "for their coordinated operations that have allowed approaching the period of increased demand for fuel with sufficiently supplied goods and prices that do not exceed inflation."