PM Fico: Oil Emergency Might End on 8 April (2)

Bratislava, 1 April (TASR) - The state of emergency in Slovakia concerning oil could be lifted next Wednesday, 8 April, if the Slovnaft refinery returns the borrowed state oil to the state material reserves, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) during a briefing with Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) at the Bratislava refinery following a joint meeting with Slovnaft representatives. "We've agreed with the refinery's representatives that there will be another working meeting on Wednesday [8 April] of next week. Slovnaft borrowed 250,000 tonnes of crude oil from the state reserves, of which it's used about 105,000 tonnes, and it's gradually returning it," said the prime minister. "As soon as the moment comes when our state reserves are full again, so that we'll meet the EU requirement to be prepared for 90 days, we are ready in the government to cancel the state of emergency concerning oil. We had to declare it in order to provide the oil loan to Slovnaft," he noted. According to Fico, this doesn't affect the government regulation on dual pricing and restrictions on diesel purchases. "We'll let that regulation run until the end of its 30-day period," he said. He added that the government wants in part to respond to requests from neighbouring countries, such as the Czech Republic, which on Tuesday (31 March) asked Slovakia to lift the oil emergency. "We expect continued pressure for fuel prices to rise. We must also take into account that such upward movement may occur in Slovakia," added the prime minister. Sakova said that an informal video-conference of EU energy ministers took place on 31 March. "The European Commission informed us that the last tanker from the Strait of Hormuz has arrived in Europe. For the first time, it acknowledged that the situation is serious and not short-term. The EU fears that the situation will have at least a medium-term impact," she said. According to Slovnaft board chairman Gabriel Szabo, the refinery borrowed 105,000 tonnes of crude oil from the state. "Of these, we've already returned 65,000 tonnes and plan to return the remaining 40,000 tonnes at the beginning of next week," he added. If all the ordered oil arrives on time, the refinery should operate at full capacity in the second half of April, he claimed. In Fico's view, oil issues in the EU must be addressed not only at the level of individual member states. "One country cuts excise duties, another reduces VAT, another introduces dual pricing of fuels. This needs coordination. So, a meeting of V4+ countries [V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia], including key prime ministers and federal chancellors such as those of Austria or Germany, would be appropriate," added the prime minister. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final five paragraphs mf/df