The Slovak government has decided to introduce emergency restrictions on the fuel market in an effort to prevent diesel shortages and curb so-called fuel tourism. The new regulations announced by Robert Fico’s cabinet will apply not only to Slovak citizens, but also to foreigners — including Poles traveling through the country or filling up there because of lower prices.

The most noticeable change for foreign drivers will be a higher diesel price. The Slovak government has announced that the rate for non-citizens will be set by the finance minister as the arithmetic average of diesel prices in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. This means abandoning a uniform price at petrol stations and introducing a clear distinction between domestic and foreign customers. At present, a liter of diesel in Slovakia costs around 1.5 euros, but the price for foreigners is expected to be higher.

This is not the only restriction. Under the government’s decision, diesel may be pumped only into a vehicle’s fuel tank and into no more than one canister with a maximum capacity of 10 liters. In addition, a spending cap of 400 euros per vehicle will be introduced. In practice, this is meant to prevent bulk purchases of fuel and its transport abroad.

The new regulations will particularly affect self-service petrol stations and those outlets that are unable to enforce the new rules. Such stations will have to remain closed. This shows that the government in Bratislava is treating the situation very seriously and wants full control over diesel distribution.

At the same time, Slovakia has decided to temporarily restrict diesel exports. The ban will apply both to European Union countries and to states outside the bloc. The only fuel that may be taken out of Slovakia will be the amount already in a vehicle’s tank. This is another signal that the authorities want above all to protect the domestic market and limit the outflow of fuel during a period of supply tension.

As Prime Minister Robert Fico announced, the regulations are to enter into force immediately after publication in the official gazette and remain in place for 30 days. The government says the aim is to stabilize the market and ensure sufficient diesel supplies for Slovak consumers. Fico openly criticized “fuel tourism,” which, in his view, has contributed to local shortages at filling stations.

The problems stem not only from rising oil prices, but also from disruptions in the supply of Russian crude. The Druzhba pipeline, which transported oil to Slovakia among other countries, has been out of operation since the end of January following damage to infrastructure near Brody in western Ukraine. Already in February, the Slovak government declared a state of emergency in the oil sector and began using strategic reserves.

Slovakia’s situation shows how strongly Central European countries remain dependent on stable oil supplies and how quickly an infrastructure crisis can translate into decisions that affect ordinary drivers. For Poles, this means that refueling diesel in Slovakia may become not only more expensive in the coming weeks, but also much more restricted than before.