Opening the video conference, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said, in part:

"The issue of the supply of fuel and lubricants to agricultural producers at discounted prices is under the constant control of the government.

"The total amount of fuel and lubricants to be supplied to the countryside this year is 2.7 million tons, which includes more than 2.5 million tons of diesel fuel and about 180,000 tons of petrol. This is 25% more than they received last year.

"Given the drought last year, practically all regions of the country had to compensate for the decrease in cultivated areas during the spring field campaign.

"Obviously, agricultural producers had additional fuel requirements for the sowing campaign. Under these circumstances, the government instructed executive authorities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of discounted fuel and lubricants to agricultural producers, partly by redistributing fuel supplies reserved for the autumn.

"Today's teleconference is attended by representatives of federal executive bodies and suppliers of fuel for agriculture.

"We'll discuss the need for timely interaction between all parties concerning the redistribution of the limits and supply of fuel to the countryside.

"Since March, the majority of regions have practically used up all their diesel fuel limits for this period. As for petrol, less than 60% of it was used for agricultural requirements.

"The harvesting campaign is in full swing. From September to November, farmers will have to do a lot of work to ensure the next year's harvest.

"Having used part of the redistributed autumn limits, a number of regions have reported the need for an additional 260,000 tons of discounted diesel fuel."

Participants in the video conference discussed the supply of agricultural producers with fuel and lubricants, including the sufficiency of these amounts and the access of individual farms to discounted fuel, as well as additional fuel requirements.

After the video conference Zubkov instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and the Energy Ministry, in conjunction with the regions, to specify the additional requirements for fuel and lubricants and, along with producers, to prepare and submit relevant proposals to the government. These proposals are to ensure the supply of the required amounts, in particular, by redistributing the diesel fuel limits from regions with low fuel spending to those with high spending, and by reducing the amount of petrol and increasing the amount of diesel fuel within the established overall limit.

During the video conference 35 regional governors submitted applications for additional fuel and lubricants at discounted prices.