The Russian authorities wanted to “freeze” wholesale prices for gasoline. A similar measure was already applied three years ago.

According to the newspaper, the government instructed the Ministry of Energy to prepare a draft agreement with vertically integrated oil companies (VICs) and independent oil refineries. Its subject should be prices for small wholesale shipments of gasoline and other types of fuel traded on stock exchanges.

Analysts have already warned that in this case, oil workers and, particularly, refineries may sustain losses. Meanwhile, such a policy will play into the hands of petrol station chains (ADF), which can increase profitability due to lower purchase prices.