PRESS: Govt unlikely to lift fuel imports moratorium early

MOSCOW, Aug 7 (PRIME) -- The Russian government is unlikely to be able to lift a moratorium on fuel imports before October because of the Finance Ministry’s position, Kommersant business daily reported citing sources on Friday.

The sources said that “the ministry is afraid that imported fuel, first of all, imported from Belarus, will put competitive pressure on domestically-made products on the local market,” which may reduce oil refining and tax collection from the industry.

In July, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Energy Ministry sent to the government a proposal on lifting a ban on imports of oil products to Russia early as they saw demand for motor fuel recovering to the level that was registered before imposition of coronavirus-related restrictive measures.

On May 25, the government introduced a temporary ban on imports of gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and other oil products to Russia until October 1 to ensure the energy security and stabilization of the situation on the domestic fuel market.

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