Under the Kaluga Region's system, drivers may refuel only on odd or even days depending on the first digit of their license plate, and fuel may be pumped only into the tank, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said. Local logistical disruptions in fuel deliveries to individual filling stations have been recorded and queues have returned, according to Shapsha.
The region previously introduced restrictions on August 15 and lifted them on September 1.
In Zabaykalsky Krai, the BRK and Kors filling station chains set a limit of 15 liters of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline per vehicle starting September 23, the regional crisis management center announced.
First Deputy Prime Minister of the krai Buyanto Batomunkuev attributed the decision to total fuel reserves at filling stations and oil depots amounting to 17,000 tonnes. At the current rate of sales, that will last 20 days, he said. According to Batomunkuev, 11,100 tonnes of gasoline are in transit, and additional volumes have been directed to the region under agreements with the Energy Ministry.
The crisis management center added that 249 of the krai's 250 filling stations are operating, and fuel can be purchased without restrictions at 106 of them. Similar measures were introduced in the region in June and lifted on July 23.
The Moscow Times, citing reports from the parties involved, noted that over the past three days, September 20-22, three Russian refineries were struck: in Moscow, Samara and Ufa. The Moscow plant, with a capacity of 14 million tonnes per year, has completely halted refining, and according to Reuters sources, it could take weeks to restore the equipment.
Five other large refineries supplying, among others, the capital region were previously reported to have been shut down. According to estimates by Novaya Gazeta Europe based on data from the gdebenzin service, by mid-September fuel was absent at nearly every second filling station in Russia.