Russia Bans Petrol Export For Six Month Amid Rising Domestic Demand

Russia stated on Tuesday that petrol exports will be banned for six months beginning from 1 March to compensate for increased consumer and agricultural demand and to allow for planned refinery maintenance.

RBC originally reported the ban, which was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

Russia enforced a similar restriction from September to November last year to combat high domestic pricing and shortages. However, ban was exempted for four former Soviet states—Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

This time, the restriction will not include Eurasian Economic Union member nations, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Georgia’s two Russian-backed separatist regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.