The Russian government has authorized the temporary production, import and sale of low-grade gasoline that was banned more than a decade ago, the Energy Ministry said Thursday, framing the move as an “anti-crisis measure” amid a nationwide fuel shortage.
Under a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 standard fuels will be allowed to be sold on the market through July 1, 2027.
Russia originally banned Euro-2 fuel in 2013 due to high pollutant levels, completing a transition to cleaner Euro-5 standards in 2016. Euro-2 gasoline permits up to 50 times more sulfur than Euro-5 fuel.
High sulfur concentrations degrade engine components and exhaust systems. Environmental experts also warn that burning lower-grade fuel increases smog and acid rain, exacerbating respiratory conditions such as asthma in urban centers.
The Energy Ministry framed the rollback as an “anti-crisis measure to strike a balance between fuel quality standards and consumer availability.”
