EU country becomes first to introduce war rationing | World | News
Slovenia is the first EU country to introduce fuel rationing amid the US-Iran war.
It comes as US-Israel strikes and retaliations from Iran have struck the Gulf – where most major players in world energy markets are.
This has caused many countries to become victim to increasing fuel prices.
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This led to “fuel tourism” in Slovenia, with drivers from neighbouring countires, Austria in particular, visiting to benefit from lower, regulated prices.
The new restrictions implemented by Slovenia mean that private motorists in Slovenia will be restricted to a maximum purchase of 50 litres per day.
Businesses and farmers can purchase up to 200 litres per day.
Slovenia becomes the first EU member state to implement fuel rationing (Image: Getty)
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Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Gobb said at the weekend: “Let me reassure you that there is enough fuel in Slovenia, the warehouses are full and there will be no fuel shortages.”
His government’s measures are set to be policed by petrol stations themselves, with employees tasked with ensuring customers do not exceed the maximum amount of fuel allowed.
Fuel retailers are also being encourage to implement sticter limits for foreign drivers.
The new rules come as some fuel retailers have already put measures in place. Hungary’s MOL, which operates petrol stations across the country, has introduced a daily 30 litre limit.
In Austria, a litre of Euro-super 95 petrol is reaching €1.80 (£1.56), with diesel closer to the €2 mark. In Slovenia it is much lower at a maximum of €1.47 and €1.53 respectively.
However, these prices are expected to rise on Tuesday, March 24.
A lorry driver at Sentilj, close to Slovenia’s northern border with Austria, told local media it feels as if there is confusion as to whether his country is “at war” with petrol stations running out of fuel.
Price of fuel continues to rise across the globe (Image: Getty)
The man said: “I’ve never experienced anything like this before”.
The BBC report that this is a common feeling in the nation. Many Austrian drivers feel the price difference is enough to justify making a cross-border trip to refuel.
Leader of the far right Freedom Party, Austrian politican Herbert Kickl, has been sharing his refuelling trips as political propaganda, posting a photo of a queue of Austrian-plated vehicles waiting to fill up at a Slovenian petrol station.
“Isn’t this sad,” he posted, “that we live in a country where it has become necessary for many to go abroad so that life is cheaper?”
It is reported that some Slovenians see the visitors as a pain, adding to queues and causing shortages for locals.
However, some are more welcoming, noting that “fuel tourists” often make a day from their trip, spending money in local restaurants and shops.
