OREANDA-NEWS  Russia currently faces the task of modernizing oil refineries (refineries) to increase the depth of refining. This was stated by Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov in an interview with NTV, RIA Novosti reports.

According to him, it is difficult to build such a plant from scratch, it is very expensive, although the country needs them. Therefore, it is now more important to achieve the maximum from existing enterprises, for which new equipment needs to be installed.

The head of the Ministry of Energy refuted the opinion that the fuel crisis observed in the country in late summer and early autumn of this year was due to problems at the refinery. According to him, the problems were related to the depreciation of the ruble and discounts on Russian oil. At the same time, he stressed that it is possible to avoid problems in the future only by increasing oil refining.

Earlier it became known that the Russian authorities are preparing a number of measures to help oil refineries, including reducing requirements for spare parts. The vast majority of complex equipment was purchased abroad, but after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, all supplies were stopped or greatly complicated.