Turkmenistan Halves Fuel Allowance For Travelers Leaving Country, Raises Fee For Each Extra Liter

Since August 10, Turkmenistan has further restricted the amount of fuel vehicles are allowed to have in their tanks when leaving the country. The limit is now 150 liters, down from 300. Drivers must now pay 30 manats ($1.50) for each liter above the limit, up from 20 manats.

On April 1, Turkmenistan introduced restrictions on the amount of diesel fuel in the tanks of vehicles leaving the country. The amount could not exceed 300 liters, and drivers had to pay 20 manats for each liter above that limit. Foreign drivers paid in dollars at the official exchange rate, bringing the cost to $5.70 per liter of diesel. Unwilling to pay that much, foreign drivers simply drained the excess diesel onto the ground before crossing the border.

Now, according to documents obtained by turkmen.news, the duty-free fuel allowance has been cut exactly in half to 150 liters, while the fee for fuel above the limit has increased by 50% to 30 manats.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the corresponding decree, No. 1917, on August 5.

In Turkmenistan, the production and distribution of petroleum products are strictly regulated by the state. The government also sets retail prices, which are significantly lower than those in neighboring countries. The price difference has led to various illicit schemes for exporting fuel abroad, periodically causing shortages. In addition, gas station employees arbitrarily limit the amount of fuel sold to individual customers and demand unofficial payments for exceeding the limit, sometimes as much as 200% of the official price.

Observers believe the April and August restrictions are also linked to conditions in the fuel market. The war between Israel and the United States and Iran, which has also affected Persian Gulf countries, blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for exporting oil and gas from the region to global markets. As a result, prices for various types of fuel have risen significantly over the past month. For example, diesel prices increased by 70% in the United Arab Emirates and by 50% in the United States, reaching $1.30-$1.40 per liter.