Antimonopoly Committee asked to restore control over fuel circulation

A few days ago, the Antimonopoly Committee appealed to the government with a proposal to restore state control over fuel circulation. In their statement, it is also about monitoring supply and demand in the fuel market, as well as state regulation of the market.

The committee explains the need for state control by the fact that due to the lack of complete information about fuel circulation, the state “cannot predict and plan actions” on the market. The committee claims that the state should have influence on the market in order to prevent fuel shortages.

At the same time, the influence of the state was one of the factors that deepened the deficit on the fuel market in April-May 2022.

Let us remind you that after the Russians destroyed oil depots and an oil refinery in Kremenchuk, there was a shortage of fuel. As a result, its prices began to rise. The authorities decided to establish state regulation of prices, which led to an even greater crisis on the market: lack of fuel at gas stations, incredible queues, and the growth of the gray market. In the end, they decided to cancel state price regulation. Entrepreneurs and importers were able to increase the offer on the market, so the shortage and queues disappeared.

Spring 2022 should teach the authorities that non-interference of the state in the market is a necessary condition for overcoming the deficits caused by the war. The return of state regulation of the fuel market will not protect against rising prices, but on the contrary will create a crisis in the market and ultimately affect the wallets of ordinary Ukrainians.