Slovnaft Halting Diesel Exports to Ukraine, Will Only Satisfy Domestic Needs

Bratislava, 18 February (TASR) - The Slovnaft refinery is halting its diesel exports to Ukraine, and all products will now be designated for the domestic market, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) after the government at its meeting on Wednesday decided to release 250,000 tonnes of oil from the national material reserves for Slovnaft. The move is a response to the interruption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Bratislava refinery needs 7,300 to 7,500 tonnes of oil per day to be able to produce enough products for the domestic market. "Slovnaft is halting diesel exports to Ukraine and all other exports, and everything it processes now in Slovakia will be intended for the Slovak market," said the premier. There's no risk of fuel or other oil-product shortages in Slovakia, therefore, he added. The release of oil from the national material reserves will help Slovnaft bridge the period until tankers with oil arrive in Croatia and the oil reaches Slovakia. According to the refinery, this will take some 20–30 days. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) said that Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek is currently exploring the options for supplying oil and oil products from the Czech Republic. According to Sakova, a reverse flow could serve as an additional supply option in the future, but this would require significant investments on the Czech side. ko/df