The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has so far rejected the idea of mobile gas stations in order to protect consumers from low-quality fuel and avoid risks related to tax payments, but gas station operating schedules will be revised, according to Serhiy Kuyun, director of the consulting firm “A-95.”
“The idea of mobile gas stations has been put on hold to avoid facing the situation currently unfolding in Russia, where many people no longer drive anywhere due to the authorization to sell low-quality fuel. Moreover, the state’s need for fuel taxes hasn’t gone away, and in this chaos, it will be even harder to collect them,” Kuyun wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.
At the same time, as he noted, certain measures regarding gas station operations under shelling were discussed at a recent meeting with the prime minister.
“At the meeting, representatives of the gas station network assured that they would continue operating, as they have gradually adapted to the new realities. But operating hours will obviously be changed (shortened), and service operations in dangerous areas will be temporarily suspended… The less often and the less time you spend at a gas station, the better,” Kuyun noted.
He also noted that the issue of fuel delivery remains critical, as the enemy has begun targeting fuel tankers.
The director of “A-95” noted that, according to estimates, up to 200 gas stations and oil depots have already been damaged, including four oil depots and nine “OKKO” gas stations, 22 “WOG” facilities, and 12 “Ukrnafta” facilities.
As previously reported, on July 7, the Prime Minister of Ukraine held a meeting with oil traders to discuss the necessary measures to ensure continued fuel supplies to frontline regions amid ongoing Russian attacks on gas stations and fuel complexes.
At the time, Danylo Getmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada’s Tax Committee, noted following the meeting that the government and market representatives have a clear plan of action to ensure uninterrupted supplies and prevent losses. He also announced that the necessary decisions would be adopted in the near future.
