The company said the decline followed government measures to curb consumption and fight fuel smuggling. Despite extensive overhauls at refineries in the first five months of this year, average diesel production rose by 3 million liters a day from the previous year.

Daily deliveries of liquid fuel to power plants during the same period increased 27% year-on-year, while gas supplies to thermal power plants remained nearly unchanged.

The Oil Ministry and the refining company said the measures have boosted liquid fuel reserves by 60% compared with last year, in preparation for winter demand and to help offset natural gas shortages.