MOSCOW HALTS DIESEL EXPORTS

MOSCOW, JULY 8 /SRNA/ – Russia has imposed a complete ban on diesel exports by oil companies through July 31, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in a statement to RIA Novosti.

"A ban on diesel exports has been introduced today and it will increase supplies to the domestic market," Novak said during the government meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian government said the decision was taken to help maintain stability in the domestic fuel market.

At the same time, the restrictions will not apply, among other exemptions, to diesel fuel exported from Russia under international intergovernmental agreements.

Putin described the fuel supply difficulties in Russia as temporary and said they were linked, among other factors, to what he described as Ukraine's attempts to disrupt the holiday season and create an atmosphere of anxiety in Russian society.

The Russian president instructed the government to resolve fuel supply issues in Crimea more quickly and to expedite decisions on subsidizing fuel purchases, saying that support measures for Crimea and southern Russia should be implemented immediately rather than at a later date.