The police have been involved in the issue of pricing at gas stations in Dagestan.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan met with gas station owners and called the existing prices for gasoline unreasonable. Users on Telegram indicated that increasing competition from federal companies will help lower prices and normalize the situation in the fuel market.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 2, the "Dagtoplivo" association announced a decrease in exchange prices for petroleum products and stabilization of fuel supplies to Dagestan. According to the association, many independent gas station owners purchased significant volumes of fuel at high prices and will be able to lower its cost after selling their stocks. Residents of the republic noted on social media that the price of gasoline at Dagestani gas stations reaches 125 rubles per liter, commenting on the "Dagtoplivo" report about the decrease in fuel prices.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan has taken up the issue of gas station prices
The Telegram channel "Criminal Chronicle," run by the head of the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, Gayana Garieva, reported on the meeting between the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan and gas station owners.
"In the past few days, the leadership of the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs has been holding discussions on this topic, but only individually. In these discussions, gas station owners presented arguments explaining the necessity of raising fuel prices. And although a compromise had not yet been found at that time, even these discussions have already yielded results. However, time was needed for a complete and thorough examination of all arguments and their factual justification. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, Abdurashid Magomedov, instructed police officers to fully study the market, logistics, and provide an analysis of the fuel market with all its nuances and details for discussion. Today, gas station owners were invited to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan for a more detailed and constructive dialogue. A compromise was found. And this is indeed a compromise. The interests of both suppliers and consumers have been taken into account," she wrote on August 8.
A video was attached to the message, showing the minister talking with gas station owners.
"The population is dissatisfied because a certain group of people does not take realities into account and unreasonably raises prices for goods and services. I understand your situation with the possible increase in wholesale prices, the possible increase in supplier prices. We analyzed all this before meeting with you. Yes, the situation in the fuel market is complicated, yes, prices have increased. But at the same time, we see that a certain group of people is further inflating prices," Magomedov stated.
Users debated the influence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the situation
This message had garnered 74 comments by 7:00 PM Moscow time.
Some users called for solving the issue by increasing competition.
"A meeting is certainly good, but what picture do we see? At the meeting, there were 9 representatives of gas stations, which indicates a market monopoly. To make competition market-based (when the market controls the price), it is necessary for 2-3 vertically integrated fuel companies to enter the republic. They should have their own extraction, processing, and gas station network. Then there will be competition. In such a situation, in my subjective opinion, a third of the gas stations will close in the first six months," noted AAA.
"We need to bring Lukoil and others back to the Dagestani market. Our locals have completely lost their touch. Prices will start to drop due to competition," believes Mariyam.
"All gas station operators should be strictly controlled. Dagtoplivo doesn't need this, the FAS is inactive, the government is being lenient. Ordinary workers pay for this entire banquet. And there’s also the mark for GBO, which traffic police officers check so fiercely," writes jason.
"Can we not fine for the absence of a GBO mark for now? Gasoline is already expensive," suggested A.
Others expressed opinions on why the Ministry of Internal Affairs is dealing with fuel prices.
"What does the Ministry of Internal Affairs have to do with the fuel market? Why aren't the structures directly empowered to handle this doing it?" inquired Matador.
"People from our republic work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so it's understandable that they care about this!" believes ami.
"Well done, Ministry of Internal Affairs, well done. I think, unlike the FAS, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will find the strength to influence the situation. If there is a desire, of course," expressed Ibragim Idrisov.
"In the end, what compromise? Did they lower it by a ruble?" inquired ..
.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that against the backdrop of drone attacks on oil refineries, including those located in southern Russia, a fuel crisis has emerged. The gasoline shortage caused a sharp increase in demand for the installation of gas equipment (GBO). Customer queues at auto services have stretched for several months, and the cost of equipment has nearly doubled.
Long waiting times force motorists to turn to "gray" installers who do not guarantee the safety of the equipment, analysts noted earlier.
At the same time, the mass installation of GBO will not help overcome the fuel crisis due to the lack of necessary infrastructure, they believe.
Creating such infrastructure in a short time is impossible, noted the deputy general director of the Institute of National Energy Alexander Frolov. According to him, the current crisis has prompted a reminder of existing programs that are developing more slowly than planned.
Leading analyst of the National Energy Security Fund Igor Yushkov suggested that the mass transition of drivers to gas will not become a long-term trend. After the fuel problem is resolved and queues at gas stations disappear, the excitement around the installation of GBO will decline, he believes.