Blackouts Increase Fuel Demand by 20%: OKKO Forecast.

According to inkorr.com: Fuel demand for cars in Ukraine may rise by 10-20% in the event of significant power outages. This was announced by Yuriy Kuchabskyi, Vice President of OKKO for Procurement and Wholesale Sales.

Preparedness for Challenges

According to Kuchabskyi, the company already has sufficient experience operating in crisis situations.

“If there is a blackout — we are trained. We estimate that fuel sales may jump by 10 to 20%. The market can handle this very easily,” he stated during the forum “Energy that Holds Ukraine”, organized by RBC-Ukraine in Kyiv.

Flexibility of the Ukrainian Market

The expert explained that the Ukrainian fuel market is flexible and competitive, capable of quickly adapting to new challenges. Preparedness for demand fluctuations is ensured by the following factors:

• absence of industry monopolization;
• experience with crises — from full-scale invasion to loss of supplies from the Russian Federation;
• adaptation to energy attacks and destruction of oil refining infrastructure.

The Market Withstands Strikes

Kuchabskyi reminded that in the summer, after Russia's strike on the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, the market withstood this blow without a deficit. The number of fuel importers then increased by approximately 50 companies, which allowed meeting all needs.

“The Kremenchuk plant exited the market on the same day, but there was no deficit — the market was replenished. Thus, there will be no catastrophe now,” emphasized the OKKO representative.

He also added that suppliers have learned to operate without large oil depots to avoid creating additional targets for the enemy. This allows them to manage logistics flexibly even during missile attacks and blackouts.

Earlier, the National Bank of Ukraine analyzed the fuel market and made a price forecast until the end of 2025, which predicts a gradual increase in the cost of gasoline, diesel, and autogas without sharp jumps.

This situation highlights the importance of the fuel market's adaptability in wartime. Ukrainian companies are trying to maintain stability under critical conditions, ensuring fuel supply even in challenging circumstances. The National Bank’s forecasts also indicate a lack of catastrophic changes in pricing policy, which may reassure consumers in these difficult times.