The article examines the reasons and circumstances of the temporary closure of the factory «Treugol'nik» in Petrograd on the basis of archival materials. The circumstances of the closure of the plant and the discussions that accompanied it show the complexity and complexity of the problems associated with the closure of one particular enterprise, as well as the importance of the «Treugol'nik» for the economy of the young soviet republic. The author comes to the conclusion that the shortage of gasoline was the main reason for stopping production.