Slovenia becomes first European country to cap fuel sales

The government of Slovenia has introduced new restrictions on fuel purchases and temporarily cut environmental taxes, as it steps up efforts to address ongoing disruptions in petroleum supply.

Prime Minister Robert Golob said on March 22 that fuel dispensing at individual gas stations will be limited to 50 litres per person and 200 litres per legal entity per day starting Sunday. The measure will apply nationwide, with particular focus on motorway service stations, RTV SLO reported.

The decision follows a series of emergency meetings involving ministers, transport companies and major fuel retailers, including Petrol and MOL’s Slovenian unit. Authorities also recommended that oil traders consider introducing differentiated pricing for foreign customers to curb so-called “petrol tourism”.

“If necessary, we will also take other measures,” Golob said, while reiterating that fuel supplies remain sufficient despite the logistical disruptions.

The latest steps come after the government formally declared disruptions in fuel distribution logistics on March 21, particularly affecting Petrol, the country’s largest supplier. Officials said that as of March 22 the problems had not yet been resolved, with “serious disruptions” still ongoing.

As part of its response, the government said it has ordered Petrol’s management to prepare an urgent action plan to ensure uninterrupted supply, while inspection services have been tasked with checking for potential regulatory breaches.

The state-owned Slovenian Sovereign Holding has also been instructed to seek a shareholder meeting at Petrol and initiate a special audit into its logistics operations since mid-March.

In addition, the Ministry of the Interior has been asked to assess whether there are grounds for legal action, citing possible suspicions of economic crime and risks to public safety.

Alongside supply measures, the government moved to limit price pressures by temporarily reducing the environmental tax on key fuels. Under a new resolution, the tax on petrol, diesel and heating oil has been set at zero until May 4, after which it will return to €30.85 per unit.

The measure is intended to cushion households and businesses from rising energy costs and curb inflationary pressures. Officials estimate the temporary tax cut will reduce state budget revenues by around €23mn but say the impact on the environment will be limited due to the short duration of the measure.

The combined steps reflect mounting strain on Slovenia’s fuel market, driven by surging demand, logistical bottlenecks and rising global oil prices, prompting authorities to intervene to stabilise supply and prevent further disruptions.