When does the withdrawal from mandatory stocks end?

The measure is authorised from 8 to 20 September 2026. If the situation continues, the Economic Supply Delegate and the DEFR may authorise further withdrawals through new ordinances. The hope is that the Cressier refinery will return to operation around mid-September, reducing pressure on inventories.

How much fuel can be drawn from stocks?

The withdrawal of 30,000 cubic metres of petrol and 30,000 cubic metres of diesel is authorised. Although they appear to be significant figures, they represent less than 3% of the total mandatory stocks for each product, preserving additional safety margins.

What happens if the refinery does not resume in time?

If the shutdown continues beyond mid-September, federal authorities may authorize additional withdrawals from strategic stockpiles. Mandatory stocks cover an average of 4.5 months of demand, providing a significant time buffer to ensure continuity.

Who owns the mandatory gasoline and diesel stocks?

Mandatory stocks belong to companies, not to the state. However, the federal government has the power to authorize the release of these reserves in the event of a temporary shortage of national supply.

By when do the collected fuels have to be reconstituted?

The quantities used from the compulsory stocks must be replenished within six months of the withdrawal of the measure. This reasonable period allows owner companies to import or produce new fuel to restore strategic reserves.

Petrol and diesel shortage: compulsory stocks taken

By Redazione Frontaliere Ticino (AI-generated text) · Published on 8 September 2026

Fuel storage facility in Switzerland with tanks and petroleum infrastructure

Cressier refinery stopped due to failure, limited Rhine transport. Authorized withdrawals of 30,000 m³ of gasoline and diesel between 8-20 September from mandatory stocks.

Context

In breve

Cressier refinery shut down due to technical fault, supply under pressure
Authorization to withdraw 30,000 m³ of petrol and 30,000 m³ of diesel from September 8 to 20
Quantities represent less than 3% of total mandatory reserves

Key facts

What: Withdrawal from mandatory reserves of petrol and diesel on federal authorization
When: September 8–20, 2026
Where: Switzerland, Cressier refinery (Canton Neuchâtel)
Who: Roland Pfister, delegate for Economic Supply
Amount: 30,000 m³ petrol + 30,000 m³ diesel
Percentage: Less than 3% for each product
Coverage: Mandatory reserves cover approximately 4.5 months of average demand
Replenishment: Within 6 months of the measure's revocation

The fuel supply situation in Switzerland has deteriorated in recent days. Roland Pfister, the Country's delegate for Economic Supply, has authorized the use of mandatory reserves of petrol and diesel from September 8 to 20 to ensure the continuity of supplies across the national territory. The withdrawal amounts to 30,000 cubic meters of petrol and 30,000 cubic meters of diesel. Although it may seem like a considerable figure, it represents less than 3% of the respective mandatory reserves for each of the two products.

What caused the crisis

The Cressier refinery, in Canton Neuchâtel, is the only active refinery in Switzerland. Last week, it temporarily halted production due to a technical fault. It normally covers just over 30% of Switzerland's demand for petroleum products. The facility is expected to return to operations around mid-September, but in the meantime the market is under extraordinary pressure. The situation has been further complicated by water scarcity in the Rhine. Low water levels have drastically reduced river transport capacity, an essential method for fuel supply to Switzerland. Rail transport is already heavily strained, and the pipeline connecting France to Geneva cannot compensate for either the quantity or the timing of the deficit caused by the refinery's shutdown.

Details of the measure

The stated objective of the measure is to support the market during the period of difficulty and ensure the continuity of the Country's supply. Monitoring the impact on your economic situation during this phase is important, as any price variations could be reflected in your personal and business budget. The quantities withdrawn from reserves must be replenished within six months of the measure's revocation. Should the situation extend beyond expectations, further withdrawals may be authorized. The refinery shutdown mainly affects petrol and diesel. For the moment, no difficulties are reported in the supply of heating oil and kerosene, which maintain a more stable situation compared to transport fuels.

Operational details

How mandatory stockpiles work

Mandatory stockpiles represent a strategic buffer to ensure the security of national supply. In the case of petrol and diesel, they belong to companies and generally allow to cover approximately four and a half months of average demand for each product. This is a collective resource managed through a federal authorization system. Recourse to reserves is not new: when a temporary supply shortage occurs, the country's delegate for economic supply has the power to authorize the release of up to 20% of the mandatory stockpiles of a given product.

Role of the Confederation and competencies

This is an exclusive competency of the federal delegate for amounts up to 20%. If withdrawals exceeded this threshold, competency would pass to the Federal Department of Economy, Education and Research (SERI), which must authorize recourse through a federal ordinance. In the case of the current crisis, the authorized amounts (30,000 m³ per product) remain below the 20% threshold of total stockpiles, thus allowing delegate Pfister to decide independently without needing to involve SERI through a formal ordinance. This mechanism allows for a rapid response to emergencies without procedural delays.

Duration and replenishment

The measure was conceived as circumscribed in time and temporary. The authorization period is set until September 20, with the hope that production at the Cressier refinery can resume as planned. However, the regulatory framework provides that if the situation were to persist beyond what was initially estimated, further withdrawals could be authorized through new ordinances. The quantities used must be replenished within six months from the revocation of the measure. This means that the companies owning the stockpiles will have a reasonable period to replenish strategic reserves, presumably through imports or resumption of domestic production. Fluctuations in fuel availability and prices can significantly impact your personal and business economic situation. Use the cost of living calculator to monitor how these fluctuations affect your budget.

Recommended tools

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Key points

What does it mean concretely for citizens and businesses

Mandatory fuel reserves are designed to prevent tangible fuel shortages in the coming days. Although the measure does not guarantee an immediate return to normal prices, it should prevent situations where petrol and diesel are unavailable at gas stations in Switzerland. For transport and distribution companies, the measure provides relief during the refinery shutdown. However, it is possible that during the shortage period (until 20 September) retail price variations may be observed due to reduced availability and increased concentrated demand.

When and where to get information

Official communications on the supply status are published by federal institutional channels, particularly by the delegate for Economic Supply and the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research. National media disseminate regular updates on refinery recovery and the overall situation. If the refinery does not return to operation by mid-September as planned, it is likely that the Swiss government will communicate new emergency measures, possibly resorting to further withdrawals from reserves. In that case, federal ordinances will communicate any changes promptly.

Next steps and practical strategies

In the meantime, for those who regularly use petrol or diesel, it is advisable to monitor official communications and refuel when availability levels permit, avoiding letting tanks drop too low. For companies, directly consulting their usual suppliers about possible delivery limitations or price variations remains the most prudent strategy. The situation should normalize once the refinery has completed the repair of the technical fault, probably by mid-September according to current forecasts. However, even once restarted, internal production will need to compensate for the deficit accumulated during the shutdown and transport difficulties on the Rhine will continue to affect supply times until water levels return to normal.

In the medium term, river transport difficulties remain a critical factor. The low Rhine limits the inherent capacity for fuel movement, a bottleneck that cannot be quickly resolved. For this reason, supply monitoring will remain a priority even after production restoration at Cressier. If you wish to follow the impact of these federal decisions on your personal or business economic situation, use our cost of living calculator to estimate the impact of any price variations on your consumption and family budget.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the withdrawal from mandatory stocks end?: The measure is authorised from 8 to 20 September 2026. If the situation continues, the Economic Supply Delegate and the DEFR may authorise further withdrawals through new ordinances. The hope is that the Cressier refinery will return to operation around mid-September, reducing pressure on inventories.
How much fuel can be drawn from stocks?: The withdrawal of 30,000 cubic metres of petrol and 30,000 cubic metres of diesel is authorised. Although they appear to be significant figures, they represent less than 3% of the total mandatory stocks for each product, preserving additional safety margins.
What happens if the refinery does not resume in time?: If the shutdown continues beyond mid-September, federal authorities may authorize additional withdrawals from strategic stockpiles. Mandatory stocks cover an average of 4.5 months of demand, providing a significant time buffer to ensure continuity.
Who owns the mandatory gasoline and diesel stocks?: Mandatory stocks belong to companies, not to the state. However, the federal government has the power to authorize the release of these reserves in the event of a temporary shortage of national supply.
By when do the collected fuels have to be reconstituted?: The quantities used from the compulsory stocks must be replenished within six months of the withdrawal of the measure. This reasonable period allows owner companies to import or produce new fuel to restore strategic reserves.