On Wednesday, the Slovak government announced a 30-day restriction on the sale of diesel fuel and has banned its export abroad. The new measures, which will come into effect after the publication of the government's regulation, specifically target foreign drivers who will now pay a special price based on the average prices in neighboring countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, and Poland, where diesel fuel is currently more expensive than in Slovakia. This decision aims to mitigate the phenomenon of 'fuel tourism,' as drivers from Poland have been crossing the border to take advantage of lower diesel prices in Slovakia.

The announcement was made by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who stated that the measures are a direct response to a current state of oil emergency declared in February due to disruptions in crude oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline because of the conflict in Ukraine. The restrictions do not apply to gasoline sales, which remain unaffected, highlighting the Slovak government’s intent to specifically address the diesel crisis.

Under the new regulations, gas stations in Slovakia will only be allowed to sell diesel to vehicle tanks and to one canister with a maximum capacity of ten liters. This means that self-service stations, which typically do not monitor transactions closely, will face operational challenges in enforcing the new guidelines. Overall, this policy reflects Slovakia's strategic efforts to manage its fuel resources amid regional supply disruptions while also targeting the influx of foreign drivers looking for cheaper fuel options.