Pour a full tank: gasoline may disappear at Ukrainian gas stations

The Russian occupiers purposefully destroy the fuel infrastructure of Ukraine. The enemy is destroying oil depots and fuel production plants with rocket strikes. Because of this, there was a shortage of fuel at gas stations in the country. Many chains stand empty or sell a limited amount of gasoline. Some even sell fuel only on coupons or non-cash basis.

Today, together with experts, they figured out when the fuel will again appear on free sale.

Logistics issues

Now, when leaving the garage on a long journey, it is better to have not only a full tank of fuel, but also a spare canister. Zeros are lit at many gas stations, and some sell fuel only by bank transfer. Where there is gasoline or diesel, there may be volume limits – 10 or 20 liters per refueling.

There are several reasons for the shortage – from broken logistics, destroyed oil depots and refineries to state regulation of fuel prices, which does not allow small chains to import fuel in small batches.

“After the start of the war, Ukrainian traders were no longer able to buy fuel in Russia and Belarus, as well as deliver it through seaports. There is nothing left but to buy fuel in Europe. When everyone started buying it in neighboring countries, there was a shortage and prices for Ukrainian traders have grown,” explains Sergey Kuyun, director of the A-95 consulting company.

Then large companies began to sign contracts for the supply of fuel directly from European ports.

“But here a logistical problem arose. There is no free rolling stock in Europe to deliver this fuel to Ukraine. Now there is a particularly big problem with gasoline, while the supply of diesel fuel in Ukraine is greater,” continues Sergey Kuyun.

Also, according to the expert, deliveries from Europe by fuel trucks are actually blocked. The fact is that many checkpoints are now clogged with car carriers with “Euro-plates”, which began to be transported to Ukraine in huge quantities after the abolition of import taxes. Because of them, both fuel trucks and volunteers stand at the border for several days.

The problem of state regulation

The expert says that the shortage is partly provoked by state regulation of fuel prices. Because of it, small operators cannot import fuel from Europe.

“As I said, large suppliers have contracted a sufficient amount of fuel, but they cannot deliver it due to a lack of locomotives and wagons. with the fact that they cannot sell it cheaper than the prices set by the Cabinet of Ministers,” says Sergey Kuyun.

He explains this by the fact that small batches of fuel are already sold in Europe at a premium. Plus, the logistics of one fuel truck will be significantly more expensive than the delivery of several railway tanks.

“If the government now abolished state regulation of prices, fuel would rise in price by 2-3 hryvnias per liter, but it would appear on the market. Moreover, autogas would most likely fall in price. It is now sold with a large margin precisely because of the shortage Gasoline costs UAH 36 per liter, but there is little of it at gas stations, and gas is sold at UAH 30, but it is available in sufficient quantities,” says Sergey Kuyun.

In fact, the shortage of one fuel creates an excessive demand for another type of fuel. If there was no shortage of gasoline, then autogas would have fallen in price to 23-25 ​​UAH. per litre.

What to prepare for

The expert says that in the near future Ukrainians should forget about the 92nd gasoline. The fact is that it is not sold in Europe, but the 92nd was produced only at the Kremenchug refinery, which was disabled by a missile attack from Russia. Now the stocks of this fuel are running out and there will be nowhere to take it.

Secondly, fuel shortages, especially gasoline, will continue to be observed at gas stations in the coming weeks.

“If there is fuel on sale, restrictions will be introduced on refueling of 10-20 liters at a time. But many networks will stop serving retail customers altogether, and will sell fuel to corporate customers by bank transfer, but restrictions will also be introduced here. For example, there will be pour no more than 100 liters of diesel, and no more than 20 liters at a time into a passenger car,” Kuyun continues.

According to him, also part of the networks may simply begin to ignore government restrictions and sell fuel at a higher price. Over the weekend, higher prices were set by small chains of gas stations, and on Wednesday even at the gas stations of the Privat group, fuel began to be sold at a higher price than allowed by the government decree.

Earlier we wrote about the price the Belarusian economy pays for supporting Putin’s aggression. Read about how consumer tastes of Ukrainians will change after the war.