UPDATE: Ministry: Russia’s July gasoline output to rise 16% on mth

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MOSCOW, Jul 17 (PRIME) -- Russia’s production of gasoline will grow by 16.4% on the month to 3.55 million tonnes in July, the Energy Ministry said in a presentation on Friday.

“Production of automobile gasoline in July is to stand at 3.55 million tonnes,” the presentation read.

In June, the country’s gasoline production amounted to 3.05 million tonnes.

The ministry also expects demand for gasoline to grow to 95% in July from 82% in June.

Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin said in a news conference that the ministry registered an increase in demand for gasoline and diesel fuel, and that refineries reacted to that swiftly in spite of unprofitability of refining. Production of automobile fuel in Russia is currently close to the level of 2019, the difference stand at about 2–3%, he said.

“We recommend companies allocate additional oil volumes in August to loading of refineries. We think that the economy will allow them to outperform 2019,” he said, adding that it would be wrong to limit fuel consumption in fear of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is necessary to ensure consistent fuel supplies and creation of fuel reserves, he added.

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