A record number of attacks on Russian oil facilities was recorded in August
Throughout August, Ukrainian forces carried out at least 21 attacks on oil refineries in the russian federation. As a result, gasoline production volumes in the aggressor country have decreased by nearly 20%. This was reported by Ukrinform citing Bloomberg, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
In August, four of the ten largest oil refining enterprises in the rf, which supplied fuel to key industrial and densely populated regions, came under fire. According to analytical data, the current intensity of the strikes is the highest for the entire duration of the conflict, as more than 20 successful attacks have been carried out over the month.
Raw material processing volumes in the rf have now fallen to levels not seen in the last 20 years. While previously the country processed up to 5.5 million barrels per day, this level dropped to 3.8 million barrels in August. Such dynamics are caused by both physical damage to equipment and forced shutdowns of technological processes.
Consequences for the russian fuel market
In addition to gasoline, diesel fuel production has seen a significant decline of over 23%. However, the domestic diesel deficit has been kept at a 3% level due to a strict export ban introduced by the russian government earlier this summer. Before the attacks, the rf controlled about 10% of the global diesel market, but now these volumes are directed exclusively to domestic needs.
Analysts at Energy Aspects Ltd. forecast a slight recovery in refining in September to nearly 4.2 million barrels per day. At the same time, oil market analyst at Energy Aspects Louis Niev-Hauss warned: “While the risks of this indicator declining remain if Ukrainian drone strikes on russian oil refineries continue at this pace.”
Illustrative photo: Alexxx1979 / CC BY-SA 4.0
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