Russia seeks 50,000 tonnes of gasoline from Kazakhstan amid fuel shortage - Reuters
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russia is in talks with Kazakhstan to import 50,000 tonnes of AI-92 gasoline in an effort to ease a domestic fuel shortage caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, by late June, shutdowns at several major oil refineries in central Russia following Ukrainian drone attacks had reduced gasoline production by about 25% year-on-year.
Earlier, Kazakhstan's Energy Minister, Erlan Akkenzhenov, said that Astana had not received an official request from Moscow for gasoline supplies. Russia's Energy Ministry declined to comment on the situation.
Barter deal: Gasoline for jet fuel
According to sources, gasoline supplies to Russia could be arranged in exchange for Russian jet fuel. Kazakhstan is expected to face a shortage of aviation fuel in July due to rising demand and maintenance work at the Atyrau refinery.
Feedstock concerns
One potential supplier is the Kondensat refinery in Kazakhstan, which processes gas condensate from the Russian TANECO refinery.
However, on June 12, TANECO, owned by Tatneft, completely halted processing after a drone strike, which could also limit feedstock supplies for the Kazakh refinery.
What else Moscow is doing
The Russian government is considering several measures simultaneously, including restricting fuel exports, increasing subsidies for refineries, and importing gasoline by sea. This month, Moscow has already allowed refineries to produce fuel that does not meet standard quality requirements.
This is not the first time Moscow has sought gasoline supplies from Kazakhstan. Back in 2024, Russia asked Astana to prepare 100,000 tonnes of gasoline in case of a domestic shortage.
Russia's fuel crisis intensified in June 2026. Restrictions on gasoline sales were introduced in 53 regions, while Tatneft limited purchases to 30 litres per transaction. The shortage spread to Moscow and Siberia, and even oil-producing regions began selling gasoline under strict limits.
