At least three oil refineries in the aggressor country of russia were forced to stop or reduce production. The reason for this was Western sanctions, the high cost of borrowing, and strikes by Ukrainian drones.
This was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to five unnamed sources, who work in companies that manage refineries.
Interlocutors of the agency said that in recent months the Tuapse, Ilsk, and Novoshakhtinsk oil refineries have suspended or reduced their work.
Low-tech refineries that do not produce premium fuels have been hit hardest, two Reuters sources said.
They added that for several months in the second half of this year, such factories suffered losses of up to RUB 10,000 on each metric ton of raw material.
Some more technologically sophisticated refineries also operated with small losses, but there were also enterprises that managed to make a small profit from the sale of light fuel.
Another problem of the russian oil refining industry was the increase in the cost of oil. On the domestic market in October, it traded at RUB 50,000 per ton. To make a profit, independent oil refiners need the cost of a ton not to exceed RUB 35,000.
Oil refiners' incomes were also affected by the collapse of diesel prices in Europe. In August, they fell by almost 60%.
According to Reuters sources, two of the above-mentioned refineries (Novoshakhtinsk and Ilsk) have asked the government for help, for example, additional subsidies.
"We expect that the actual closing of the factories may take place at the beginning of next year," the agency quotes one of its interlocutors as saying.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on the night of November 7-8, Ukraine launched an attack on an oil refinery in the Saratov Oblast. The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is behind the attack.
The last time Ukraine struck russian refineries was in September of this year. Then the Moscow Refinery came under attack.
It will be recalled that in July 2024 it became known that Ukrainian strikes caused the collapse of oil refining in russia.
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