Russia offers to introduce petrol coupons

The motor fuel prices keep on going up in Russia, the manufacturers’ taxes cannot be reduced and the measures should be taken to protect population, such as issue coupons or introduce limits of petrol consumption, Regnum new agency quoted Gennadii Shmal, President of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas Manufacturers, as saying on February 6, 2014.

He said the main reason of growth of local fuel prices is lack of the state price policy in all the fields. In this situation the manufacturers shift their costs on the consumers. In particular, constant growth of taxes and excises, which constitute up to 609% of petrol price, favor the growth. He believes that constant growth of petrol excises is the main negative factor: now it totals 9,916 rubles per 1 ton against planned 9,400 rubles and in 2015 it will go up to 10,858 rubles per 1 ton. 

He offers to use another methods to reduce the fuel prices for the population: opening of petrol stations for low-income citizens, issue fuel coupons  with 30-40% discount or introduce petrol consumption limit, above which petrol will be sold at the market price.

The head of the Union of Oil and Gas Manufacturers also said that half of the world countries strictly control energy carriers prices at the local market. Russia also has to pursue the well thought-out policy in the field, because growth of petrol prices affects at least 100 million citizens, considering that there are about 38 million automobiles in Russia.—0--