Finance
Slovenia Limits Fuel Purchases as Pumps Run Dry
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Slovenia has imposed temporary limits on fuel purchases—50 litres for private vehicles and 200 litres for businesses—to ease pump shortages driven by cross‑border demand and stockpiling amid the Iran war. The army will support logistics, and authorities stress that supplies remain sufficient.
Slovenia Sets Temporary Fuel Purchase Limits as Shortages Hit Gas Stations
Government Response to Fuel Shortages
By Fatos Bytyci
Background and Causes of Shortages
LJUBLJANA, March 22 (Reuters) - Slovenia on Sunday temporarily limited fuel purchases to tackle shortages at the pump caused in part by cross-border fuelling and stockpiling due to the Iran war, raising concerns about security of supplies as the country goes to the polls.
Details of Purchase Limits
Fuelling at individual service stations is limited to 50 litres per day for private vehicles and 200 litres for legal entities and private businessmen, such as farmers. The restrictions will stay in force until further notice, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced on Saturday evening.
Government Assurance on Fuel Availability
"Let me reassure you that there is enough fuel in Slovenia, the warehouses are full and there will be no fuel shortages," said Golob, a liberal who is standing against right-wing populist Janez Jansa in an election on Sunday.
Logistical Challenges and Army Involvement
Golob said the problem lay in the transportation of fuel to gas stations, and that the army would use tankers to help retailers move supplies.
Impact on Petrol Stations
Petrol, the largest Slovenian oil distribution company, has suffered fuel shortages, causing long queues at its gas stations in recent days.
Many Petrol stations across Slovenia were closed on Sunday. Those belonging to Hungarian oil and gas group MOL have remained open but had already limited purchases to 30 litres for individuals and 200 litres for legal entities.
Public Reaction and Experiences
"Today we didn't have problems because I have an application where I can check where to tank," teacher Tamara Gale Beasinsky, 40, said at a gas station in Ljubljana. "But yesterday we had a problem because we were waiting more than 20 minutes in the queue...and we were able to tank only 30 litres of diesel."
Government Monitoring and Recommendations
The government has asked retailers to update it on the supply situation on a daily basis so additional measures can be imposed if necessary. It has also recommended that retailers prepare special measures for foreign drivers, Golob said.
International Perspective
"I didn't think it would...be linked so quickly to the events taking place in Iran," said Sahli Pierre-Alain, a Swiss tourist in Ljubljana.
(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci, Gaspar Lubej and Branko Filipovic, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Key Takeaways
- •Fuel limits aim to curb hoarding and cross‑border fueling amid elevated demand linked to Middle East tensions and cheaper Slovenian prices (ansa.it)
- •Strategic reserves are being tapped and army tankers will aid distribution, highlighting government efforts to manage logistical bottlenecks, not actual fuel scarcity (ansa.it)
- •Petrol and MOL experience different impacts: Petrol stations have seen closures and queues, while MOL outlets remain operational with stricter daily limits, reflecting varied capacities and responses (ansa.it)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Slovenia limits fuel purchases as pumps run dry
1Why has Slovenia limited fuel purchases?
Slovenia imposed temporary fuel purchase limits due to pump shortages caused by cross-border fuelling and stockpiling linked to the Iran conflict.
2What are the current fuel purchase limits in Slovenia?
Fuel purchases are limited to 50 litres per day for private vehicles and 200 litres for legal entities and private businessmen.
3How long will Slovenia's fuel purchase restrictions last?
The restrictions will remain in force until further notice, as announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob.
4Are all gas stations in Slovenia affected by fuel shortages?
Not all; many Petrol gas stations were closed, while MOL stations remained open but with stricter limits.
5What measures has the Slovenian government taken to address the fuel crisis?
The government has deployed the army to help with fuel transport, asked retailers for daily updates, and recommended special measures for foreign drivers.
