Russia holds off on diesel export ban Mon, but still considering it -Novak

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - The Russian government is continuing to assess the possibility of imposing a ban on diesel fuel exports, but a decision to impose such a ban was not made after the latest meetings on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

"No, but we're considering," Novak told reporters when asked if a decision to impose a ban on diesel exports was made.

He said the government is taking all measures necessary to stabilize the domestic fuel market, working on this issue daily.

Novak told reporters a day earlier that the Energy Ministry was not currently recommending banning diesel exports, but said the issue was supposed to be considered again at a command center meeting on the fuel market situation on Monday.

The government said in a statement that at this meeting regional leaders reported to Novak on fuel reserve levels and presented proposals for additional measures to support the stability of the domestic market. Novak, in turn, recommended that governors establish a system for efficient use of fuel and distribute it taking into account the needs of key sectors.

President Vladimir Putin also held a meeting on supplying the domestic market with fuel on Monday. He ordered the government and oil companies to take systemic measures to stabilize the situation by accelerating oil refinery repairs, ramping up fuel production, maintaining economically justified prices for fuel and arranging the necessary amount of imports.