Fuel Ration: Why Tatneft Tightened the Valve at Its Gas Stations
The introduction of limits at Tatneft gas stations has led to queues and rising retail prices. While analysts debate the real damage to refineries after attacks, experts talk about market control. What lies behind the three-day fuel maneuver in the Volga region?
Limits per Person: How Much Is Dispensed at Gas Stations?
The Russian fuel market has faced an unexpected precedent. One of the country's largest vertically integrated oil companies — PJSC Tatneft — has introduced strict limits on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel across its entire network of flagship gas stations. The situation was exacerbated by a massive technical collapse: gas stations virtually stopped accepting bank cards. While the company's management speaks of "local communication failures," experts are sounding the alarm, linking the events to the shutdown of capacities at the TANECO refinery after a recent incident. This has also caused discontent among Tatarstan drivers and rising fuel prices.
Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina also spoke out. According to her, inflation is expected to rise in the summer due to the situation on the fuel market. She also noted that the Bank of Russia may have to temporarily pause the reduction of the key interest rate, as the room for its reduction has become limited.
The first reports of empty pumps and queues at Tatneft gas stations began coming from the Volga region, but soon the restrictions expanded to all of the operator's own (non-franchise) gas stations in Russia. An economy mode was introduced at the stations. Now drivers have to calculate their remaining distance considering the following norms: for passenger cars, gasoline (all grades) — up to 20 liters, diesel fuel — up to 60 liters; for heavy trucks, diesel fuel — up to 300 liters.
Attempts by drivers to bypass the system and fill additional volumes into canisters are strictly suppressed by gas station staff. On-site, this is explained by an order "from above" to prevent complete emptying of tanks until new batches of petroleum products arrive. Alongside the shortage, car owners faced the inability to pay in usual ways. Tatneft hotline operators openly admit: only cash is accepted at gas stations. Contactless payment terminals, Mir Pay, SBP, and the network's proprietary mobile app were blocked in most regions of presence.
The press service of PJSC Tatneft promptly denied information about a deliberate switch to cash. Company representatives claim the problem is purely technical and caused by "local failures on the side of communication providers." However, sources in the banking sector and specialized Telegram channels point to another possible reason: the disconnection of processing may be a temporary measure to reduce the load on the company's financial circuits amid a sharp drop in operating revenue due to underfilling of fuel.
At the time of publication of our article, Tatneft has almost completely lifted restrictions on the sale of AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel. They can now be purchased without limits. However, a limit of 30 liters per car for AI-95 gasoline remains, while there are no restrictions for fuel cards. Drivers also reported that the problem with non-cash payment has been resolved, and this payment method continues to work as before.
Commenting on the situation, political scientist Yuri Alaev points out that viewing the current fuel crisis solely through the lens of technical damage to refineries would be an oversimplification. He believes that the saying about fishing in troubled waters perfectly describes what is happening behind the scenes of the retail market.
"The actions of major oil players may contain an element of pragmatic calculation. Of course, drone and missile strikes on refineries cause real, and in some cases quite substantial, damage. However, large businesses always have the temptation to exploit this force majeure. By exaggerating the scale of the disaster, oil companies get an ideal reason to extract additional subsidies from the government, maintain tax benefits, and simultaneously raise retail prices, which looks especially cynical on the eve of the approaching harvest season," Alaev notes.
The expert believes that several complex factors are at play here. When it comes to Tatneft's competitors in the Volga market, one should not expect aggressive dumping or an open price war. Alaev is confident that large vertically integrated companies (VICs) will act as cautiously as possible, because they are in an equally vulnerable position. Any attempt to gain momentary profit at the expense of a neighbor could tomorrow result in similar problems for the winner.
The main blow of the crisis will be borne not by giants, but by small businesses. The segment of independent gas stations will face a massive wave of bankruptcies. Small gas stations will begin to rapidly exit the market — just as small captive banks were massively liquidated under pressure from the regulator, the political scientist clarified.
A separate and most alarming marker of the situation, in his opinion, is the sudden disappearance of non-cash payments at Tatneft gas stations. Despite its return, this problem goes far beyond a local communication failure or even the fuel market itself, Alaev believes. What is happening, in his words, reflects tectonic shifts in Russian business and society.
"Economic actors, including small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the most savvy citizens, clearly feel: the current economic policy of the authorities gives no hope for a quick stabilization. Understanding that tomorrow will not be better, businesses and the population are increasingly moving their real incomes into cash," Alaev states.
The desire to accumulate cash, according to him, is driven by quite tangible fears. Distancing from the banking system and minimizing the risks of blockages are occurring in different regions of the country.
"Of course, giants like Tatneft or LUKOIL are less affected by these concerns — they are too deeply integrated into the state system. However, the overall market trend towards 'collectivization of cash' is so strong that it begins to dictate its terms even to the largest corporate chains in the regions," the speaker added.
Our editorial office contacted the press service of PJSC Tatneft to find out why gas stations are dispensing gasoline by "coupons," where non-cash payments disappeared, and when this fuel crisis will end. The company confirmed that temporary technical restrictions on fuel dispensing have indeed been introduced at the network's gas stations. Representatives of the oil giant emphasize that the measure is forced and is intended to curb the wave of panic demand and cut off speculators who are trying to buy petroleum products in canisters.
"Today at Tatneft gas stations, the following rules apply: owners of passenger cars can purchase no more than 30 liters of gasoline (AI-92 and AI-95) or up to 60 liters of diesel fuel per person. For trucks, the limit is higher but also limited — up to 300 liters of diesel fuel," Tatneft clarified.
At the same time, the press service assures that there is no real shortage of raw materials in the company's reserves — operational stocks at oil depots are sufficient to cover the planned needs of the region. Nevertheless, industry experts view the situation less optimistically. According to their estimates, full stabilization of the domestic market and restoration of all refinery capacities could take from several months to six months.
Another reason for discontent among Kazan motorists is the sudden disappearance of non-cash payments. At some gas stations, drivers are greeted with signs demanding payment exclusively in "live" money. Social media immediately spread rumors that the company was deliberately accumulating cash due to a sharp drop in sales. Tatneft categorically denies these theories, claiming that the problem was caused by a failure or incorrect internet operation for reasons beyond the company's control. At most gas stations, non-cash payment has already been restored, but drivers are advised to have cash on hand for unforeseen situations.
Every resident of Tatarstan is asking: when will gas stations return to normal operation? However, the company's press service did not provide an answer.
Southern Panic
What officials called "temporary logistical difficulties in the south" at the end of May had turned into a federal fuel collapse by mid-June. The geography of restrictions extends from Crimea to the Urals and Siberia — drivers spend hours storming gas stations hoping to fill at least half a tank. The government's permission to release low-quality fuel of the Euro-3 standard instead of Euro-5 did not solve the problem — gasoline is physically disappearing from pumps.
The epicenter of the crisis remains the Crimean Peninsula and Krasnodar Krai, where disrupted supply logistics have turned refueling a car into a real quest. Free sale of gasoline has effectively stopped, and, for example, in Sevastopol, you can only fill up at a handful of gas stations and strictly up to 20 liters per person, with a system of coupons and QR codes introduced. The most popular grade, AI-95, is practically unavailable to ordinary motorists without special passes. Social media is viral with stories of tourists who have to hire tow trucks for tens of thousands of rubles to transport an empty car to Kerch, where restrictions are slightly milder. Trying to escape the Crimean shortage, motorists have flocked en masse to gas stations in Kuban. The result is huge queues of 20 to 100 cars in Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, and Anapa, and large networks have been forced to completely suspend operations at some of their stations due to lack of fuel.
Until recently, the capital regions remained untouched, but a nighttime drone attack on the Moscow Refinery in Kapotnya changed the balance of power. At Moscow and St. Petersburg gas stations of Tatneft, Rosneft, and LUKOIL, both hidden and open restrictions have been introduced. Depending on the network, no more than 40 liters of diesel or 20–30 liters of AI-95 gasoline are dispensed per receipt. Rosneft has a cap of 90 liters per tank, but a strict ban on selling fuel in canisters.
The crisis of overproduction and repairs at refineries has also reached the eastern part of the country. In the Urals, Tatneft gas stations have set a limit of 20 liters of gasoline per person. In the Samara Region, gasoline and diesel have completely disappeared at many stations — drivers are only offered gas. Restrictions and supply disruptions have been officially recorded in the Novosibirsk and Irkutsk Regions, Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal Territory, where, due to a lack of volumes from large suppliers, small independent gas stations are the first to close.
The main marker of panic in the market has become an unofficial but widespread ban on selling fuel in containers. Operators of hotlines for Rosneft, Bashneft, and TNK confirm: refueling is allowed strictly into the vehicle's tank. Staff at gas stations are engaging in open conflicts with drivers trying to stock up, fearing a soon price hike or complete disappearance of fuel from pumps.
Company officials link the restrictions to the "need to combat speculative demand and artificial hype." Indeed, against the backdrop of panic rumors, car owners began mass buying fuel in reserve. The introduction of limits by Tatneft sparked an instant wave of consumer panic. However, the nature of this hype is rather irrational.
Commenting on the situation, psychologist Oleg Staroverov emphasizes that "the company itself is not creating any artificial hype." The expert calls for separating the real scale of the problem from its perception by a panicking minority. According to Staroverov, there are no objective reasons for global concern among motorists today.
"Tatneft is just one brand out of a dozen large networks present on the market. Nearby, LUKOIL, Teboil, and other operators continue to operate normally, where no systemic fuel problems are observed. You need to start worrying when gasoline globally and massively disappears at all gas stations. But for now, only one network is affected — there is no point in panicking," the psychologist states.
The avalanche-like hype around the shortage, in his opinion, is formed by a very specific, albeit small, category of citizens. These are people with a certain mentality, prone to hyper-care, over-insurance, and constant fear. They are unable to see the big picture and assess real alternatives.
"That part of drivers with critical thinking assesses the situation soberly. They do not rush to buy fuel in tons and do not create queues at stations. Nevertheless, the behavior of panickers triggers a dangerous chain reaction: when people without critical thinking see a limit of 20 or 30 liters at the pump, an ancient evolutionary mechanism kicks in: 'grab while they're giving.' It is this psychological trigger that makes drivers rush between gas stations, creating artificial jams and complicating life for those who really need fuel for work here and now," Staroverov believes.
According to data from open sources of international and industry agencies, OSINT analysts, eyewitnesses, and comparative analysis of Ministry of Energy schedules with stock market data, the restrictions at gas stations are a direct consequence of the suspension of production capacities at the TANECO oil refining complex in Nizhnekamsk (Tatneft's key refining asset). According to this data, a technical failure occurred at the enterprise, coinciding with planned seasonal repair work at other major refineries in the country. As a result, a physical shortage of commercial gasoline and diesel formed in the domestic market of Tatarstan and neighboring regions. Tatneft's own volumes were no longer sufficient even to supply the company's retail wing.
The reaction of the financial and retail markets was immediate; for example, Tatneft shares on the Moscow Exchange declined. Investors are factoring into the stock price the risks of a decrease in net profit due to the refinery downtime and reduced retail sales. Tatneft's customer flow has rushed to competitors' stations — LUKOIL, Gazprom Neft, and TAIF-NK. Multi-kilometer queues are already being recorded at these gas stations, and local exchange prices for gasoline have begun to rise.
Amid fierce discussions around the fuel market, more pragmatic assessments are also being voiced, calling for separating real economic processes from information panic. Commenting on the situation, Deputy of the State Council of Tatarstan Eduard Sharafiev emphasized that the situation with fuel shortages at gas stations is largely artificially inflated and has a strong emotional coloring, fueled by rumors. The parliamentarian is convinced that the introduction of limits at Tatneft gas stations is not a sign of a systemic crisis, but a responsible step by management aimed at protecting the basic infrastructure of the republic.
"Indeed, limits were introduced at Tatneft gas stations, but they were introduced to stabilize fuel reserves. Hundreds of strategically important organizations use the company's branded network under long-term contracts, including passenger carriers, emergency services, and the agricultural complex. In conditions of temporary logistical or technical difficulties, the company had to do everything to protect the systemic business and prevent problems for commercial and municipal transport. Restrictions for private individuals helped maintain the necessary balance," Sharafiev explains.
Nevertheless, the deputy admits that the pure logic of stabilization encountered unfair behavior by some players. The resulting stressful situation was immediately exploited by other participants in the fuel market: wholesale traders and independent gas station networks did not miss the slightest opportunity to instantly increase the selling price of petroleum products, seeking to profit from others' difficulties.
Sharafiev sees the solution to the problem in consolidating the efforts of the state and business. According to the Tatarstan legislator, now is not the time to look for those to blame within the industry.
"I believe that at this moment we need to provide comprehensive support to our fuel and energy companies so that they can quickly restore their operations in full. In parallel, supervisory authorities, including the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), should monitor the market as strictly as possible. Their direct duty today is to promptly suppress any manifestations of speculative and unjustified price increases at gas stations," the deputy of the State Council concludes.
Speaking about the possible market consequences of the incident, representatives of the parliamentary opposition call for an objective assessment of the time frame of the crisis and not to overestimate the successes of competitors. Commenting on the situation, Deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan from the Communist Party faction Nikolai Atlasov expressed serious doubt that other players in the retail market were able to derive long-term benefits from these events.
"I do not think that in the situation where Tatneft introduced restrictions on gasoline, other companies gained anything serious, especially since Tatneft has already lifted most of the limits today. Let me remind you that Tatneft introduced restrictions on June 14, so they were in effect for three days. This is too short to talk about any possibility of a long-term redistribution of the market in favor of other companies," Atlasov emphasized.
As confirmation of the thesis about the high stability of consumer preferences, the deputy provided a characteristic example demonstrating the phenomenal loyalty of motorists to the Tatarstan brand.
"An acquaintance of mine witnessed an indicative picture in a neighboring region precisely during the period of these restrictions. At a Tatneft gas station, where branded TANECO gasoline was sold, an impressive queue had formed, despite the fact that only 20 liters were being filled into the tank. Meanwhile, literally nearby there was a Gazprom Neft gas station, where there was only one car at that moment. From this, we can conclude that temporary interruptions for a short period are not able to quickly switch consumers, especially since the quality of TANECO gasoline surpasses the products of many of Tatneft's competitors," the deputy said.
According to the parliamentarian, one could talk about a real redistribution of shares only in the case of a prolonged crisis. However, under such a scenario, the state would inevitably intervene. If the situation with gasoline supply becomes truly critical, the executive branch immediately makes tough decisions that automatically affect the gas stations of absolutely all companies. In Tatarstan, this would definitely affect TAIF-NK as well. And since TAIF-NK did not introduce any restrictions, we can confidently assume that the situation with gasoline supply in the republic has not reached a critical level.
Panic Factor and Beneficiaries of the Crisis
Commenting on the situation with restrictions on fuel dispensing for Vechernyaya Kazan, former State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov emphasized that the current restrictions at gas stations are a forced reaction to possible social upheavals. A fuel shortage in the market with frozen prices is a strong irritant for society.
"The government's very decision to restrain the market is controversial and even harmful, because the real root cause of the crisis is the consequences of increased Ukrainian UAV attacks on key Russian refineries. The authorities are trying to claim that the functionality of the plants is preserved, but logistical disruptions and a drop in output volumes are obvious: restrictions have already been introduced in almost two dozen regions of the country. In conditions of artificially created shortages, there are always those who are ready to extract maximum profit from the situation," Lysakov noted.
According to the former deputy, the main beneficiaries of what is happening are exchange and physical speculators. When a driver gets only 20 or 30 liters instead of the required 60, he starts looking for alternative ways. Resellers instantly activate around gas stations and oil depots, ready to sell fuel at one and a half to two times the official price.
The government's permission for large plants to temporarily produce fuel of the Euro-3 standard (instead of Euro-5), according to Lysakov, effectively "let the genie out of the bottle." In the provinces and on highways, thousands of unlicensed small "mixers" will sharply activate.
"Due to the lack of strict control, they will begin to legally and illegally dump counterfeit low-quality gasoline (down to Euro-2 and Euro-0) on the market, artificially increasing the octane number with harmful chemical additives. The hype also benefits large players. The production of low-ecological fuel is cheaper, company costs fall, and against the backdrop of panic and high demand, it will be sold at the maximum price," the former State Duma deputy added.
At the same time, Lysakov calls not to blame Tatneft itself for restricting the supply of petroleum products. On the contrary, he positively assesses the actions of the Tatarstan company.
"Tatneft makes high-quality fuel. The introduction of limits is a step with a 'plus' sign, aimed at protecting the network's image and preventing panic withdrawal of high-quality reserves," the speaker clarified.
Lysakov does not share hopes that the FAS will be able to strictly regulate the situation and keep retail prices in check. According to him, the current agency has become absolutely "toothless" compared to the era of Igor Artemyev (who headed the FAS of Russia from March 2004 to November 2020), when violators were fined billions of rubles based on turnover.
"Today, the FAS actually ignores the real inflation rates, which means that rising prices at gas station pumps, falling fuel quality, and local shortages will soon become an inevitable reality for most car owners. The only ones who will not be affected by this fuel crisis are owners of electric vehicles, whose infrastructure is completely independent of gasoline logistics," Lysakov expressed.
According to experts, the stabilization of the situation at Tatneft gas stations directly depends on the timing of repair and restoration work at TANECO. If engineers manage to start the damaged units in the coming days, the limits will be gradually eased. Otherwise, the company will have to purchase the missing volumes of fuel on the St. Petersburg International Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange (SPIMEX) at high spot prices, which will inevitably lead to an increase in retail prices at gas station pumps.
