Gov't Passes Measures to Limit Diesel Consumption During Oil Crisis

Bratislava, 18 March (TASR) - At its session on Wednesday, the government approved a regulation introducing measures to limit diesel consumption during the state of oil emergency. In line with a document submitted to the Cabinet session by the State Material Reserves Administration, diesel may only be refuelled directly into a vehicle's tank and into a single container with a maximum capacity of ten litres. Refuelling is also limited to €400 per vehicle. "A restriction on the sale of diesel is being introduced so that diesel can only be sold at petrol stations only into a vehicle's fuel tank and into a single portable container intended for storing and transporting diesel, with a maximum capacity of ten litres, for a period of 30 days from the date on which the regulation is published in the Collection of Laws. Self-service petrol stations without staff and petrol stations that are unable to comply with this measure will be closed," states the document. The sale of diesel is limited to a financial cap of €400 for refuelling one vehicle. The government has also put a temporary limit on exports of diesel from the Slovak territory to another EU-member state or to a third country for a period of 30 days from the date of the announcement of the government regulation. By means of the regulation, the cabinet is introducing a special pricing mechanism for diesel at petrol stations on Slovak territory, whereby a specific price for diesel is set for all categories of vehicles registered outside Slovakia. ko/df