Mongolians wait hours for fuel as reliance on Russia bites

Mongolians faced lengthy waits for petrol as the country's reliance on Russia for fuel became problematic. In a single instance, pensioner Nasanjargal waited five hours for petrol, still 10 places behind in a queue stretching into the desert. Fuel scarcity was widespread, with AFP reporter quoting Nasanjargal as stating he was out of options after a one-and-a-half hour drive from Ulaanbaatar.

The shortage was triggered by Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities, depleting Mongolia's limited stockpiles and raising questions about its energy security. The government implemented measures such as daily individual fuel purchase limits and an alternating licence-plate scheme to reduce fuel filling up. However, these efforts were met with frustration by ordinary citizens who felt the lines were troublesome and difficult.

The governor of central Dundgovi province, Munkhchuluun Samdannyam, highlighted the challenges faced by rural regions, particularly for herders who rely on gasoline for their motors. Mongolia's vast size and small population of 3.6 million meant limited resources for infrastructure development. The country had started talks with Kazakhstan on petroleum product trade and later imported fuel from South Korea and China to address the crisis.

However, diversification of imports did not solve the fundamental issue of energy dependency on foreign providers. A domestic oil refinery was under construction, aiming to begin operations in 2028, with Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral taking responsibility for managing the crisis. Despite these efforts, diesel prices in Ulaanbaatar skyrocketed in just 15 days, weighing on ordinary drivers and logistics operators who faced fluctuations in fuel availability and prices.