Strict refueling limits remain in Chechnya amid rising fuel prices.
At many gas stations in Chechnya, different types of fuel are available without long queues, but a strict limit of 20 liters still applies. The price of gasoline at private gas stations is regularly increasing, and its quality raises doubts, drivers told "Caucasian Knot."
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", since the end of June, there have been interruptions in gasoline sales in Chechnya. Car owners reported hours-long queues at gas stations and restrictions on fuel dispensing. Residents of the republic linked the situation to increased control over gasoline sales, but official authorities did not explain the reasons for the shortage in detail. At private gas stations, gasoline prices rose to 190 rubles.
At "Rosneft" gas stations in Chechnya, gasoline is much cheaper than at private ones: 73 rubles per liter of AI-95 compared to 190 at private stations. "But there are hardly any of these gas stations in Chechnya, plus there are huge queues. A friend went to a "Rosneft" gas station to buy gasoline for a lawnmower. He patiently waited in line, but they refused to fill 5 liters into the tank. They said, 'We only refuel cars, and no more than 20 liters per vehicle.' Such unwritten rules, it turns out, are in effect," wrote a reader of "Caucasian Knot" with the nickname enrique under the article about the fuel situation.
Residents of Chechnya and tourists who visited the republic over the past four days told "Caucasian Knot" about the rise in gasoline prices. In Grozny over the weekend, there was also a shortage of 95-octane gasoline, claims a resident of Vladikavkaz Elya.
"Yesterday (July 19) we were returning home. All day the average price was 99.9 for 95-octane. We were in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan - everywhere the prices were as I saw. We refueled in Grozny. Some had the old price posted, but when we approached, they said: 'No 95, we have 100.' Or there was none at all, but the prices on the display were lit up," she said.
Queues, according to Elya, were not everywhere. "There were gas stations where we drove in and refueled immediately, but everywhere there is a limit of 20 liters per vehicle. But gasoline seems to be mostly available. There weren't queues everywhere. As for quality, to be honest, I don't know. I haven't noticed any problems with the car, but I've heard conversations that the quality has dropped due to the fuel shortage," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot."
There is no shortage of gasoline in Chechnya, but it is expensive, confirmed a guide to the Caucasus Renat. "Yesterday (July 19) I returned from Chechnya, all types of fuel are available, but the price starts from 95 rubles per liter for 95-octane. The 100-octane costs over 100 rubles, and the 92-octane is up to 90 rubles. There is a limit of 20 liters," he told "Caucasian Knot."
Queues at gas stations were encountered by the driver, but they were small. "In the morning I saw many cars at gas stations, but there were no queues during the day and evening. We refueled at night, with no queues at all. I can't say anything about the quality yet: the car will let me know, but that takes a month or two; problems don't arise immediately," he pointed out.
In the past week, gasoline prices have risen, confirmed a resident of Grozny Magomed, who is engaged in freight transportation. "Prices have risen so much in the last week that it is already a loss to work. At different points, they ask around a hundred for AI-92, and sometimes more. Regarding 190 rubles per liter: I haven't seen such a number on the display myself, but (colleagues) shared photos in chats from some small gas stations on the outskirts, where speculators have really lost their minds. At "Rosneft," the price seems to hold around 73-75 rubles, but going there means losing an hour and a half to two hours because of the long queues," he told "Caucasian Knot."
The entrepreneur himself has to refuel at private stations. "And there, not only is it expensive, but everyone says they pour who knows what. They clearly dilute it at local makeshift bases, taking advantage of the shortage," he noted.
"Burdus" were previously sold in the republic at many gas stations under the guise of AI-92 and AI-80 gasoline, noted a reader of "Caucasian Knot" kaley_stracke, commenting on drivers' observations about the sale of low-quality fuel. "As some knowledgeable people claim, this so-called 'fuel' is produced at mini-factories that continue to operate secretly in some areas of Chechnya, under the patronage of the authorities. For example, a number of years ago, right in Grozny (Zavodskoy, now Sheikh-Mansurovsky district), a fairly large mini-factory operated for many years, producing what was called 'homemade' gasoline," he wrote on July 13.
The rise in gasoline prices was also noticed by 34-year-old taxi driver Aslan. "I am on the road every day, so I feel all these swings myself. At ordinary private gas stations, AI-95 is now consistently under 100 rubles. I've heard that for 190 rubles per liter, resellers sell in canisters on the highways, but there is no such lawlessness at normal gas stations. At "Rosneft," everything is stable, 73 rubles per liter for 92-octane, but there are always queues because every 20 rubles per liter is important for taxis. Either you lose time or money," he told "Caucasian Knot."
The driver found it difficult to comment on the quality of gasoline but believes that the talks about problems with it are not unfounded. "Yes, I've heard talks about low-quality gasoline, but I can't say anything myself yet. If the engine fails, then I'll say," joked Aslan.
28-year-old driver Zubair is convinced that the quality of fuel has decreased. He has also heard about illegal producers of low-quality gasoline in Chechnya.
"Today I paid 98 rubles for a liter of AI-92. My acquaintance said that in the districts at small gas stations, he saw prices of almost 150 rubles when the panic started, but those are probably isolated cases of speculation. As for quality: when there is a shortage, the quality cannot remain the same; they are definitely diluting it. We have heard rumors before that underground mini-factories operate in the republic that produce low-quality gasoline, but I haven't seen it with my own eyes," he told "Caucasian Knot."