en.Wedoany.com Reported - Yakutia's leader, Aysen Nikolaev, recently stated that the republic plans to build a small oil refinery primarily producing diesel, considering this plan more reasonable under the current economic environment.

In an interview with Vedomosti, Nikolaev pointed out that, from an economic perspective, building a large refinery with a capacity of millions of tons is currently unsuitable. The current fiscal policies for oil refining make such projects unprofitable. Yakutia's annual consumption of petroleum products is approximately 1.3 million tons, of which 80% is diesel. Currently, importing aviation kerosene and other fuels is cheaper than establishing domestic production, but the share of logistics costs in the final fuel price is steadily rising.

If transportation service prices continue to increase, building a small refinery may become economically viable and more effectively meet domestic market demand. Currently, the region relies entirely on imported fuel. With assistance from the local government and the federal center, the main supplier, AO Sakhaneftegazsbyt, has established fuel reserves.

Following instructions from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the region has determined the priority fuel volumes for the Northern Delivery plan and approved a precise shipment schedule for July and August to ensure timely delivery of fuel to remote areas of Yakutia. According to Dmitry Lepchikov, Minister of Civil Defense and Life Safety of the Republic, some exchange transactions have been canceled, and the republic has reached a preliminary agreement with Russia's Gazprom Neft for direct rail supply of diesel. Currently, petroleum products are transported to Yakutia by rail and water (from Arkhangelsk via the Northern Sea Route).