Slovenia has become the first EU country to implement fuel rationing, to cope with the crisis caused by US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran's response by striking its neighbors in the Persian Gulf - many of them major players in global energy markets, the BBC reports .
Many countries have experienced large increases in fuel prices. In Slovenia, this has led to so-called “fuel tourism,” as drivers from neighboring countries, especially Austria, have traveled to Slovenia to fill up their cars with fuel, taking advantage of the cheaper prices.
Under the new measures, private drivers in Slovenia will be limited to a maximum purchase of 50 liters of fuel per day. Businesses and farmers have a higher limit of 200 liters.
Some fuel retailers have already imposed their own measures. Hungarian company MOL, which operates gas stations across the region, has set a limit of 30 liters.
“Let me assure you that there is enough fuel in Slovenia, the depots are full and there will be no fuel shortage,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said over the weekend.
Under his government's new measures, national-level restrictions will be enforced by petrol stations themselves, with employees having to ensure that customers are not supplied with more than the permitted amount.
