MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. Russian authorities are currently exploring measures to support oil refineries and postpone their upgrade deadlines, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at the plenary session of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian legislative assembly.

"[Proposals] of the Russian Energy Ministry in cooperation with other federal executive authorities to are now being explored to support oil refineries that cannot currently meet the schedule and upgrade agreements signed with the Ministry of Energy, with the Federal Antimonopoly Service, due to objective reasons," Novak said.

The Russian diesel fuel market is now balanced and Russia will partly authorize its exports in case of overproduction, he added.