Authorities in Russia's Irkutsk region have introduced a state of high alert to prevent an emergency due to a gasoline crisis, Governor Igor Kobzev said. He recommended that the regional police department and the National Guard patrol queues at filling stations and crack down on attempts to sell fuel illegally.
At Rosneft filling stations in the region, limits have been imposed: individuals will be allowed to purchase up to 50 liters of gasoline per day per vehicle per fill-up. Other stations may set lower limits, Kobzev noted.
The authorities have also banned the sale of fuel into any containers other than vehicle tanks. An exception has been made for emergency rescue and response services, as well as municipal and agricultural vehicles.
Employers whose organizations are not involved in life support were advised to move as many employees as possible to remote work.
According to the governor, authorities are continuing negotiations to supply fuel to independent filling stations and reduce queues. Kobzev said the coming days would show whether the measures taken have been effective.
Residents of the Irkutsk region had been reporting gasoline shortages since around June 20. Amid the deficit, public transport fares in the city of Irkutsk will rise to 45 rubles starting July 1.
The fuel crisis had spread to most Russian regions and occupied territories by the end of June. According to The Insider, restrictions on gasoline sales were recorded in at least 84 regions. Reuters estimated that Russia's gasoline output by the end of June had fallen 25 percent year-on-year.