Euro-3 Fuel Arrives at Arkhangelsk Gas Stations

The Russian government, amid a tense gasoline situation, has officially allowed a rollback to fuel meeting the outdated Euro-3 standard. The measure is intended to meet consumer demand. We asked an expert how this will affect gas stations in the Arkhangelsk region and whether motorists should worry about their cars due to the fuel composition.

Igor Efremov, commercial director of the Severnaya Imperiya gas station chain, told 29.RU how the fuel standard downgrade could affect motorists.

— This measure will start yielding results not immediately, but later. Currently, at many refineries, primary oil processing units are typically damaged, meaning oil is not being processed at all and nothing is obtained from it.

— It seems to me that lowering the fuel standard will become an effective measure once we begin to recover. There will be no need for additional units at plants or further processing to Euro-5.

The composition of Euro-3 fuel differs significantly from what Russians are accustomed to seeing at gas stations. It can accelerate wear on certain systems in modern cars.

— From a technical standpoint, Euro-3 and Euro-5 are environmental standards for automotive fuel. The higher the standard, the fewer emissions. Modern cars are equipped with recovery and afterburning systems — fuel of lower standards will primarily damage these systems rather than the engine itself.

However, producing such fuel will be cheaper and easier.

— These standards become clearer using diesel fuel as an example. Previously, people drove on high-sulfur fuel. Sulfur served as a lubricant for plunger pairs in a diesel engine. But sulfur is harmful to the environment, so it had to be removed. This affected the price of fuel. Removing sulfur from fuel is expensive, and to restore the lubricating effect, an additive must be added to diesel — that also costs money. If earlier diesel was the cheapest fuel, now it is more expensive than AI-95, — the expert explains.

Earlier, we reported on what drivers in the Arkhangelsk region should look out for when refueling with Euro-3 fuel.

In recent weeks, searching for gasoline and waiting for hours in lines have become commonplace for residents of Arkhangelsk. High gasoline prices have been noticed at gas stations in Pinezhye, Onega, Arkhangelsk, and also in Leshukonsky District (where it is most expensive — 150 rubles ($2 at current rates) per liter). We spoke with drivers at city gas stations to find out how they have adapted to the new reality.

At the same time, at Tatneft gas stations in Arkhangelsk, starting July 16, they no longer sell gasoline in canisters. Previously, a restriction was in place — one could only fill up to 20 liters at a time.

In Onezhsky District, authorities decided to temporarily reduce passenger transportation by ships due to a shortage of diesel fuel. Small aircraft in Russia have also faced problems due to the shortage: we found out what is happening in Arkhangelsk.

The Arkhangelsk authorities have published a list of useful services and phone numbers where one can check fuel availability at city gas stations. The administration reported on whether there is enough fuel to maintain the city.

We are compiling everything about the fuel situation in the Arkhangelsk region in a separate story.