‘I agree with many experts, that is, I believe that petrol prices will go up to 20 RUR per litre at the most after the oil export duty is going to be raised this June. I don’t think fuel is going to get any more expensive than this,’ Director of Institute of Economics of the Ural branch of RAS Alexander Tatarkin said to UrBC.

‘All in all, the decision to raise oil export duty appears to be ungrounded. Some authorities just take the decisions that suit their needs without bothering to make it clear to people why these decisions have actually been taken,’ he noted.

Beginning from June 1, 2007, oil export duty will grow by $44.2 and will thus reach $200.6 per ton.