A European country is considering regulation to set higher diesel prices at the fuel pumps for foreign drivers or limiting their refuelling.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the plan on Tuesday, as the government looks to protect against fuel tourism.
Fico said representatives from refiner Slovnaft, part of Hungary’s oil and gas group MOL MOLB.BU, had informed the government that in some northern districts next to Poland, cheaper diesel prices on the Slovak side of the border had led to a rise in purchases.
In some cases, Fico said, “gas stations literally dried up.”
Governments around the world fear a surge in fuel prices triggered by the Iran war.
Hungary has capped fuel prices, while Poland’s main refiner Orlen PKN.WA has cut its margins to tame the impact on consumers. Slovakia has so far avoided any measures, relying on self-regulation by sellers, which can also limit volumes.
Fico said the government wanted prices comparable to most neighbouring countries like Poland, and cheaper than in Austria.
In the UK, diesel prices have soared by an average of 18p per litre since the start of the Middle East conflict, new figures suggest.
The RAC said the average price of the fuel at UK forecourts on Sunday was 160.3p per litre.
This is compared with 142.4p when the US-Israeli campaign against Iran began on February 28.
The 13% increase means diesel is at its most expensive level since November 2023.
Petrol prices are up 7% over the same period, rising from 132.8p per litre to 141.5p per litre.
The last time petrol was more expensive was August 2024.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers with diesel cars are really feeling the heat.
“Prices have shot up 18p a litre in just two weeks, adding £10 to the cost of a full tank.
“The average cost of filling up a 55-litre family car with diesel is now £88, whereas for petrol it’s £78.
“The UK has fewer refineries than ever and those we do have are more geared towards petrol production than diesel, so we’re reliant on imports which has contributed to diesel prices rising faster.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told petrol retailers last week they had a “shared obligation” to keep prices down for motorists.