Sachin vs. Traders. The fuel exchange liquidation project + forecast for 2027.
Against the background of the ongoing turmoil in the fuel market, the discussion on the role of intermediaries moved from the level of mutual accusations to the level of engineering planning. By November 2026, Sachin's initiative ceased to be just a theory: the government had already lowered the standards for barter sales, but the problem of "paper" buyers was not solved - independent gas stations were still cut off from direct supply, and queues at gas stations in several regions were replaced by point restrictions. The position of the head of Rosneft, stated in letters to the president, is a request to dismantle the model itself, in which financial intermediaries generate profits from volatility without participating in the creation of physical value. However, behind the architecture of a "clean" market there are risks that can affect the final consumer.
Internal outline: "Additional link" and its risks.
The problem is not with the stock exchange institution as such, but with its current audience. According to Rosneft, the dealers are responsible for up to 75%-80% of the exchange purchases of gasoline and diesel. In conditions of shortage caused by the damage to the refineries, this mechanism acts as an amplifier: the middlemen accumulate volume, create a local shortage for the end consumers and accelerate the price index.
The reform proposed by Sachin involves switching to a direct sales model. Key theses of the initiative:
Priority approach: End consumers (agricultural holdings, transportation, gas stations) should be given priority over marketers. Quality quotas: Mandatory sale on the exchange of the entire volume of fuel from low environmental classes (for example, Euro-3 - a resource with a high sulfur content, which allows to save the market from a shortage) to facilitate the factories that produce high-octane gasoline.
The risk of the initiative: industry experts warn that without clear criteria for the "end consumer", any separation of buyers could lead to distortions.