The government decided not to extend the moratorium on zeroing the fuel damper after May 1, although earlier this month they were inclined to maintain the measure until the end of the year. The position of oil companies has improved due to rising world prices due to the Middle East conflict, and the cost of petroleum products on the domestic market remains stable, analysts say.
The Russian government has decided not to extend the moratorium on zeroing the fuel damper, which expires on May 1. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters about this on April 30. “Given the current situation, we have decided to remain within the current tax legislation for now. That is, if there is a need for this, then a separate decision will be made,” RIA Novosti quotes the official.
The government pays a damper as a subsidy to oil companies so that they restrain domestic prices for gasoline and diesel fuel if the export price is higher than the domestic Russian price. If wholesale fuel prices for a month deviate from indicative prices by more than a certain threshold, payments are reset to zero. From September 2025, the maximum price deviation for AI-92 is set at 20%, for diesel fuel – at 30%.
In October 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing a moratorium on fuel damper zeroing until May 1, 2026. In the summer and autumn of 2025, due to the aggravation of the market situation due to refinery shutdowns, wholesale quotes for AI-92 and AI-95 reached historical highs. Damper payments to oil companies in September 2025 decreased almost threefold compared to August – to 30.5 billion rubles, which Kommersant’s sources associated with the zeroing out of gasoline payments for August.
Earlier in April, Alexander Novak said that the government supports the proposal to extend the moratorium on zeroing the fuel damper. “Either until the end of the year, or for several months. We’ll decide soon,” Interfax reported his statement. Kommersant’s sources also expected an extension of the moratorium. About the fact that the measure may be extended until the end of 2026, RBC also reported, citing sources.
According to the Ministry of Finance, at the end of 2025, oil companies received 881.8 billion rubles from the budget for fuel dampers, in January 2026 – 16.9 billion rubles. In February and March, oil companies allocated 18.8 billion rubles to the budget. and 15 billion rubles. respectively.
Wholesale prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in Russia in recent months remain significantly lower than the quotes at which the damper is reset to zero (74.76 thousand rubles per ton for AI-92 and 76.63 thousand rubles per ton for diesel fuel). Thus, according to the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), in February the wholesale cost of sales of AI-92 in Russia amounted to 59.7 thousand rubles, in March – 64.65 thousand rubles. per ton. Average domestic prices for diesel fuel were at the level of 56.71 thousand rubles. and 63.34 thousand rubles. per ton respectively.
On the St. Petersburg Exchange, AI-92 according to the index of the European part of Russia in April was traded in the range of 65.1–65.8 thousand rubles. per ton, summer diesel fuel cost 62.7–63.2 thousand rubles. per ton. At the end of March, the exchange limited the maximum increase in prices for gasoline and diesel fuel from 0.5% to 0.01%. As the Ministry of Energy explained, the mechanism is needed to reduce volatility during periods of unstable external conditions.
In the face of supply disruptions from the Middle East, export prices for Russian oil and petroleum products increased noticeably in March.
Thus, the average price of the export alternative for AI-92 gasoline in the ports of the North-West in March, according to the FAS, increased 1.5 times compared to February, to 85.37 thousand rubles. per ton, for diesel fuel – 1.9 times, up to 111.22 thousand rubles. per ton. Gasoline exports from Russia are limited until July 31, including for manufacturers.
Managing Partner of NEFT Research Sergei Frolov says that the lifting of the moratorium is a direct consequence of the improvement in the financial condition of oil companies in the face of rising oil prices. The introduction of a moratorium was precisely one of the main support measures against the backdrop of the difficult situation in the industry at the end of last – beginning of this year, he adds. According to the analyst, prices are now at normal levels in both wholesale and retail. Further development, continues Mr. Frolov, will depend on the supply from the refinery, which is difficult to predict in the current realities.
On April 30, the government announced that it had approved a resolution according to which the Ministry of Energy and the Federal Antimonopoly Service would enter into agreements with oil companies on measures to stabilize and develop the domestic market. The agreements will regulate the volumes of supply to the domestic fuel market and retail prices for motor gasoline and diesel fuel in 2026, taking into account the expected level of inflation. According to RIA Novosti, 12 companies will sign the agreement, including Rosneft, LUKOIL, and Gazprom Neft.
A comment from the Russian government has been added to the text.
