The Ministry of Energy proposed to oblige oil companies to process 30% of the extracted raw materials.

One of the large vertically integrated companies proposed to the Ministry of Energy to fix a standard for the industry, according to which oil companies will be required to send at least a third of hydrocarbons to refineries, Interfax reports. The initiative is aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel market and ensuring the utilization of domestic refining capacities. The relevant agency has already expressed preliminary support for measures that improve the overall efficiency of the sector.

Experts note that deep oil refining within the state is designed to reduce the dependence of the local market on fluctuations in export alternatives. Legislative quotas will make it possible to balance such indicators as total oil production and the volume of subsequent production of light petroleum products. Such a step will additionally encourage subsurface users to invest in the modernization of their own technological sites.

This proposal harmoniously complements the current strategy of the Cabinet of Ministers to curb retail prices. It should be recalled that at the end of April, a special resolution was approved on measures to stabilize the market. The introduction of new strict regulations will be another important tool that will help the government control pricing over the long term.

The perimeter of potential regulation includes leading fuel and energy companies that produce high-quality motor fuels and own plants with a capacity of more than 1 million tons per year. The Cabinet of Ministers has fixed the exact list of players with whom agreements between the FAS and the Ministry of Energy are planned to be concluded by the end of 2026. This list includes eleven market participants, including state-owned corporations, private WINCS and large independent manufacturers.: Rosneft, LUKOIL, Gazprom Neft, Surgutneftegaz, Gazprom, Tatneft, as well as NOC, ForteInvest, Neftekhimservice, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat and TAIF-NK. Each of them operates large processing assets.