The difficult situation at the gas station can be solved, but it needs government intervention.
From the beginning of the war on February 24, gas stations in Ukraine prioritized the supply of fuel to the Armed Forces and the State Emergency Service, and only then to companies and private clients. Many motorists could fill the car with only 10 liters or 20 liters of fuel. Ukraine can supply fuel during the war.
Situation at gas stations: to whom and how much fuel is sold
The OKKO network has published a map with a schedule of filling stations and a restriction on the sale of fuel. Most operating gas stations are in Kyiv, Lvov, Odessa and Dnipro. From February 28, diesel is released without restriction. Gasoline is released with restrictions — up to 20 liters, 30 liters or 50 liters per car.
From the first day of the war, WOG gas stations introduced a limit on refueling private vehicles — 20 liters. The same restriction is at a number of other gas stations throughout Ukraine — even in Kiev, even in Zhytomyr, Vinnitsa or Zakarpattia regions.
On WOG and OKKO they emphasize that they primarily provide fuel for special services and critical services. infrastructure.
Customers criticize chains for raising prices. OKKO, in response to reproaches about the sale of diesel for 25 UAH, answers: & # 171; A significant part of this type of fuel is of Belarusian origin, and we no longer import from this country. Alternative sources are significantly more expensive and also take longer to establish supplies. All this together is the main factors that influenced the price increase».
How much petrol and diesel is left in Ukraine
Ukraine has reserves of fuel for special occasions. Now they are all involved.
«Therefore, it is too early to talk about big problems now. That is, the situation is difficult, but the Armed Forces have enough fuel», — says Gennady Ryabtsev, director of special projects of the Scientific and Technical Center «Psyche».
Dmitry spoke about the availability of fuel in different regions Leushkin, CEO and founder of Prime Group TM, which specializes in transport and logistics services.
«Gasoline in western Ukraine is almost running out. Kharkiv, Sumy region are without gasoline. Gasolines are still available in the Kremenchug region — there, Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Kirovograd region. West, east, south — without gasoline», — says Leushkin.
He describes the situation pessimistically: there are no new contracts with Europe. Only the Kremenchug oil refinery is operating, but it needs oil from Azerbaijan, and there are no such supplies by sea now.
«Diesel fuel in the country is left for two or three weeks. The land will dry out a little — and the farmers will buy the rest. And in 2-3 weeks there will be a collapse due to lack of fuel. Basically I'm talking about diesel fuel. Because a diesel engine is needed for the sowing campaign, the trains run on diesel», Leushkin believes.
Promising fuel trucks
Experts admit that in the conditions of war it is still possible to supply fuel through the western border, from Europe. OKKO says they are negotiating imports from Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Latvia.
Leushkin emphasizes that it is now impossible to quickly lay pipes to supply fuel from Poland in this way. Maritime communication is also difficult now. What remains is the railroad and roads.
The railroad would be a good option for fuel supplies during the war, but Ukraine has wider gauges than Poland. Therefore, at the border, wagons with fuel must be rearranged from one set of wheels to another.
However, there is another problem — clearance, says Gennady Ryabtsev: «Trains with oil products stay at customs clearance stations much longer than at the border to move to Ukrainian railway gauges».
In this regard, Dmitry Leushkin insists that it is necessary to simplify the registration of fuel trucks when importing fuel.
«We do not have laws that allow you to quickly import fuel by road. We have the same customs clearance procedure for both a fuel truck and a train of 20 wagons — fuel selection, analysis, certification. This procedure has always been very bureaucratic, bribes have always been given. Therefore, fuel trucks have never been transported», — says Leushkin.
According to him, the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers is enough to simplify the procedure: «In this case, it would be possible to transport fuel trucks from Romania, from Poland — and immediately at gas stations and for those who need fuel for sowing».
Gennady Ryabtsev agrees that the procedure for importing fuel by fuel trucks should be simplified — and the sooner the better. According to him, they are already working on it.