Gas Prices Rise: Despite Record Payouts to Oil Producers from the Budget. Situation at Gas Stations - RG Review

With the introduction of the damper, the mineral extraction tax (MET) for oil companies was increased, which has funded these payments. Importantly, all oil extraction companies pay the MET, while the damper is received only by those operating the largest refineries. Therefore, it is not accurate to view the damper as a means of "taking money" from other sectors of the economy. This year has led to a situation where oil and gas revenues have decreased, while the damper has increased.

Throughout the previous year, payments under the damper totaled 881.8 billion rubles. In the first nine months of this year, the total has already surpassed 1.2 trillion rubles. Significant payments occurred in 2022 and 2024 as well, but during those years, oil and gas revenues also set records. For the first nine months of this year, the treasury received 17.2% less from the sector compared to the same period in the non-record year of 2025.

In total, in September, the budget received 870.9 billion rubles from oil and gas taxes, but only 452.4 billion rubles went into its income part. The remaining 418.5 billion rubles were returned to oil companies in the form of compensations and subsidies, with the majority allocated to the damper mechanism.

Despite the record damper payments in September, according to Rosstat, retail prices for gasoline continued to rise, increasing by more than 1% over the month (21.2% since the beginning of the year). The situation for DF is somewhat better, with prices having dropped nearly 2% over the month, but the year-to-date increase reached 14%. Inflation since the beginning of the year was 4.93%. On the stock exchange in September, gasoline and diesel prices significantly declined (by 6-10%) compared to August peaks, yet this decrease did not affect retail prices.

As noted in a conversation with "RG" by Yuri Stankevich, deputy chair of the State Duma's Energy Committee, the damper compensates for the difference between internal and external prices specifically at the wholesale level. However, the price at gas stations (GS) is composed not only of the purchase cost of fuel. It also includes logistics, rising equipment maintenance costs, electricity, labor costs, and the markup of the gas station network itself. Additionally, GS incur expenses to maintain prices in previous months from their own profits.

The damper benefits refineries, not gas stations. Therefore, the payments influence retail prices only indirectly. However, given the record level of payments, a greater impact on gas station pricing was anticipated. This did not occur for several reasons.

According to Sergey Frolov, managing partner of NEFT Research, the rise in fuel prices in Europe (which is still used as the benchmark for the damper calculations in Rotterdam) and increased gasoline imports played a significant role. Ultimately, the price imported becomes higher than the European one because logistics and premiums for sanctions and other risks add to high prices on the global market. Given these circumstances, the damper is insufficient to cover imports, meaning sales become unprofitable. Independent players (GS that are not owned by major oil companies) cannot afford this situation. Therefore, price increases at independent or franchise GS primarily lead to a rise in the average price index, the expert emphasizes.

Stankevich believes that the influence of imported fuel should not be overestimated. The cause of the increased damper payments was not imports but rather the sharp increase in global oil and oil product prices. In September 2026, against the backdrop of rising global prices and a weakening ruble, export prices for fuel became anomalously high compared to the regulated domestic market, leading to a historical record in compensations. In this case, fuel imports are not a driver for the payments.

The average price of AI-92 gasoline in Rotterdam rose by 2% in August 2026 compared to the previous month, while DF prices increased by 10%, reported Sergey Tereshkin, General Director of Open Oil Market. However, due to the weakening ruble, the price of the export alternative (export price minus costs) rose even more significantly: for AI-92 gasoline, it increased by 9%, and for DF, it soared by 19%.

The expert is confident that if it were not for the weakening of the ruble, the damper payments, calculated with a monthly lag, would not have exceeded 300 billion rubles.

He does not rule out the possibility that in October 2026 (payments will be for September), damper payments may increase even further, as the average exchange rate last month was 85.1 rubles per dollar compared to 83.2 rubles in August and 77.9 rubles in July. Tereshkin does not anticipate a significant decrease in retail gasoline prices but does allow for some stabilization, similar to what is already happening with DF prices.

According to Dmitry Gusev, deputy head of the Supervisory Board of the "Reliable Partner" Association and member of the expert council of the "Gas Stations of Russia" contest, the key issue in the sector right now is not prices but refining volumes. In his opinion, there are no incentives for building new refineries, particularly in regions where they are urgently needed, such as the eastern part of the country. Taxes from the oil sector are collected at the extraction stage, export duties are eliminated, and then companies can do whatever they see fit with this oil—export or refine it, Gusev noted.

A car owner from Rostov demanded a gas station refund her overcharge for fuel, and her request has already been supported by the anti-monopoly service. If the gas station does not return her money, the Rostov resident is prepared to seek justice through court proceedings.

In August, Irina Yakimiv faced a dilemma: to refuel at reasonable prices after waiting in line or to fill up freely but at a high price.

"I was in a hurry and stopped at one of the gas stations. The price for 92 gasoline was over a hundred rubles, but I had to refuel. I encountered some completely outrageous prices – 180, 200 rubles per liter," Irina explained.

The Rostov resident decided not to let the matter rest and filed a request with the FAS to investigate what she perceived as unjustified price hikes for fuel.

In her request, Irina Yakimiv stated that she considers the rise in fuel prices in Rostov-on-Don to be baseless and pointed out, in particular, that this occurs at the gas stations of the "Ajax" company in the Rostov region.

Ultimately, her claims were upheld: the Rostov Region FAS reported that the authority continuously monitors price formation in the oil product market and has already identified instances of price overcharging at two regional gas stations. They were issued official warnings, demanding that the situation be corrected.

However, this outcome only partially satisfied Yakimiv. "I prepared a pre-trial complaint requesting compensation for my losses. We took the average price for the region and the price charged at the gas station. It amounted to about a thousand rubles overcharged," she told "RG".

At the same time, the woman emphasizes that the issue is not about the amount but the principle: she wants to set a precedent so that unscrupulous gas station operators stop artificially inflating prices.

If "Ajax" does not resolve the matter voluntarily, the Rostov resident intends to continue seeking justice in court. "Who guarantees that they won’t return to this practice in the future?" asks Irina Yakimiv.

Source: RG.RU