After Russia recently increased the price of its exported diesel fuel, the Mongolian government eliminated its excise tax on the fuel to keep the price consumers pay from going up. The price of 92 octane gasoline, however, has risen by MNT 60 per liter.

Our correspondent spoke with an official from the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority about fuel prices and the country’s fuel reserves. The official said that Russia has reduced its petroleum exports because of a domestic petroleum shortage. Mongolia imports 30,000 tons of diesel, 10,000 tons of 92 octane gasoline, and 10,000 tons 80 octane gasoline every month. If the amount imported from Russia is insufficient, the remainder will be imported from Latvia and Lithuania.

The official added that the state has enough 80 octane gasoline in reserve to last 16 days, enough 92 octane gasoline for 15 days, and enough diesel for a week. The official said diesel imports have been reduced due to railroad transportation delays.