- Slovnaft stops the export of diesel to Ukraine and the products go to the domestic market.
- The measure is a response to the interruption of oil supplies by the Druzhba pipeline.
- The government released 250,000 tons of oil from the state material reserves.
- According to the prime minister, there is no threat of fuel shortages in Slovakia.
The Slovnaft refinery stops exporting diesel to Ukraine and all products will be intended for the internal market. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said this on Wednesday after the government meeting, after the government decided to release the state’s material reserves of oil in the amount of 250,000 tons. This is a reaction to the interruption of oil supplies to the Druzhba pipeline as a result of the war conflict in Ukraine.
The Bratislava refinery needs 7,300 to 7,500 tons of oil per day, so that it can produce products that are sufficient for the territory of the Slovak Republic. “Slovnaft is stopping the export of diesel to Ukraine and any other exports, and everything that will now be processed at home in Slovakia will be intended for the Slovak market,” said the prime minister. According to him, there is therefore no threat of a shortage of fuel or other oil products in Slovakia.
The release of oil from the State Material Reserves will help Slovnaft overcome the period until oil tankers arrive in Croatia and before the oil reaches Slovakia. According to the refinery, it will take 20-30 days.
Minister of Economy Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD) added that the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, is currently examining the possibilities of supplying oil and oil products from the Czech Republic. According to Sakova, the reverse flow could serve as another alternative for supplies in the future, but it would require large investments on the Czech side.
