Slovakia is considering measures to restrict fuel purchases by foreign drivers amid a critical diesel shortage that has depleted supplies in border regions. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the government is evaluating policies such as dual pricing—cheaper fuel for Slovak-registered vehicles and higher rates for foreigners—or quantitative purchase limits to curb “fuel tourism,” which he says has left gas stations near the Polish and Austrian borders virtually empty.
The shortage stems from a convergence of global and regional supply disruptions. Fico, alongside Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, cited a 20% shortfall in global oil markets following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has raised concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for 20% of seaborne crude oil. Compounding the strain, flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia were halted after Ukraine suspended transit, citing damage from Russian strikes, a claim Moscow denies.
Fico accused Ukraine of politically motivated obstruction, stating the pipeline remains intact and that its closure deliberately harms Slovak and Hungarian interests. In retaliation, Slovakia and Hungary earlier halted diesel supplies to Ukraine. EU-led efforts to mediate, including a Czech proposal for joint pipeline inspection, have stalled as Kyiv has rejected international assessments, though the European Commission announced Ukrainian authorities have now accepted an EU expert mission to evaluate the damage.
The Bratislava-based refinery Slovnaft, part of Hungary’s MOL Group, informed the government that price differentials with neighboring Poland have driven cross-border fuel purchases, exacerbating local shortages. With tanker deliveries also becoming harder to secure as Asian buyers outbid European suppliers, the government warns of further price spikes without intervention.
The proposed domestic controls would require vehicle registration checks at pumps or impose caps on fuel quantities purchased outside standard vehicle tanks—targeting what authorities describe as informal export. The move highlights the vulnerability of energy markets within the EU to geopolitical shocks and cross-border arbitrage. A final decision on restrictions is pending as the government balances supply security with compliance with EU single market rules.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions between Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as broader challenges in securing stable energy flows for Central Europe. The arrival of EU inspectors in Kyiv this week may determine whether the Druzhba pipeline resumes operations, a development that could alleviate pressure on regional fuel supplies.
