The Accounts Chamber predicted a new fuel crisis

“Currently, there are risks of a repeat increase in retail fuel prices and, as a result, the emergence of social tension”, - the report says.

Analysts recalled that the rise in fuel prices in May 2018 forced the Russian government to take emergency measures.

The Ministry of Energy commented on the situation and noted that they have already taken some steps to curb the growth of retail prices for gasoline and diesel fuel, including providing fuel to the regions, as well as the profitability of filling stations.

The ministry said that the damper mechanism developed in the same 2018, designed to minimize the effect of fluctuations in world oil prices on the cost of gasoline in the Russian Federation, continues to play an important role. Thanks to this system, prices at Russian gas stations last year were kept within the framework of inflation, while the retail price for AI-92 rose then by 2.2% -2.5%, while inflation was 4.9%.

It's worth reminding that a new mechanism for setting fuel prices will be launched in the country. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, relevant departments and top managers of large oil companies decided that the adjustment of the damper mechanism that determines the price of gasoline in the domestic market will come into effect on May 1.

Meanwhile, in the capital's gas stations fuel becomes more expensive for the fourth consecutive month, despite the forecasts of experts who talked about over-regulation of the petrol market and the reluctance of the authorities to allow a rise in price in a year of elections to the State Duma. The Ministry of Energy said that the reason for the increase in gasoline prices in early March was inflation, fluctuations in wholesale prices and an increase in demand for fuel due to frosty weather.