Slovakia considers higher diesel prices for foreigners

Slovakia is considering the implementation of new regulations that would set higher diesel prices for foreign drivers or limit the volume of fuel they can purchase at domestic pumps. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Tuesday that the government is exploring these measures to protect the local market from the effects of fuel tourism. The initiative follows reports from the refiner Slovnaft, a subsidiary of the Hungary-based energy group MOL HUNGARIAN OIL-SP ADR, which indicated that lower diesel prices in Slovak districts bordering Poland have triggered a significant rise in cross-border purchases. Fico noted that this surge in demand has occasionally led to supply shortages in those regions. > In some cases, gas stations literally dried up. Global energy markets are currently under pressure as governments monitor potential price volatility linked to the conflict involving Iran. Regional neighbors have adopted various strategies to manage the impact on consumers; while Hungary has previously utilized fuel price caps, the primary refiner in Poland, ORLEN SA, has reduced its margins to stabilize costs. Slovakia has so far relied on self-regulation by fuel sellers, but the government now aims to ensure domestic prices remain comparable to those in Poland and more affordable than in Austria.