Russia is in talks with Kazakhstan to import around 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline to help ease a domestic fuel shortage caused by refinery disruptions and unplanned maintenance, according to four industry sources, The Caspian Post reports, citing Reuters.

The shutdowns of several major refineries in central Russia following Ukrainian drone attacks have reduced gasoline production by about 25% year-on-year as of late June.

Russia’s Energy Ministry did not immediately comment.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov previously said that Astana had not received an official request from Moscow for gasoline supplies.

The Russian government is considering steps to stabilise the fuel market, including export restrictions, increased subsidies for refiners and imports - an unusual move for one of the world’s largest fuel exporters.

This month, Moscow allowed refineries to produce gasoline and diesel for the domestic market using lower quality specifications. Russia is also preparing to import gasoline by sea, highlighting the seriousness of the disruption.

Kazakhstan is a relatively small fuel producer compared with Russia, and sources said its supplies are unlikely to be substantial.

Kazakhstan currently has a gasoline surplus, but scheduled maintenance at the Atyrau refinery from June 26 to July 20 will reduce available reserves, the sources said.

One potential supplier is Kazakhstan’s Kondensat refinery, which processes gas condensate from Russia’s TANECO refinery and has fuel export quotas. Kondensat exported 15,207 tons of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline to Georgia in May 2026, according to Kazakhstan’s fuel and energy analytical centre.

However, TANECO, owned by Russia’s Tatneft, completely halted crude processing on June 12 after a drone attack, which could limit feedstock supplies for Kondensat.

A source in Kazakhstan said gasoline deliveries to Russia could be possible in exchange for Russian jet fuel.

Kazakhstan is facing a jet fuel shortage in July due to rising demand, maintenance at the Atyrau refinery and lower imports from Russia, industry sources said.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, which allows duty-free hydrocarbon supplies and establishes annual indicative balances for fuel trade.