Russians stock up on gas cans as new fuel crisis looms

The second wave of Russia’s fuel crisis has triggered an unexpected surge in demand, with residents across the country rushing to buy gasoline storage cans, according to Wildberries.

Russian online retailer said the number of searches for gas cans quadrupled between August 12 and 18, exceeding 106,000, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Yandex recorded 450,000 searches for the word “gas can,” up 39% from the previous week.

The specific query “gasoline can” was searched 139,000 times, 71% more than at the beginning of August. Google showed a similar trend.

Buyers explained their reasons in product reviews. “You can avoid spending hours in line at the gas station,” one user wrote. Others complained about unscrupulous sellers offering water containers instead of fuel cans. “There is a marking for a glass and fork on the bottom,” one buyer noted in a review of a 2,279-ruble ($25) product.

The crisis has worsened following Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, with four major facilities shutting down in August alone.

As of August 16, gasoline and diesel were available at only 28.1% of gas stations across the country, while fuel sales limits were introduced in Moscow on August 19.

Reuters reported that authorities had begun redirecting gasoline from other regions to the capital.

Experts warn that the situation could deteriorate further by September.

One Belarusian refinery is scheduled for maintenance, while several major Russian refineries are also due to shut down for planned repairs.

This could trigger another wave of shortages and drive up fuel prices.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov