Slovenia fuel prices hit record highs
Regulated fuel prices at Slovenian service stations outside motorways and expressways have once more increased due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The price of diesel rose by 8.7 cents per litre to a record €1.894 amid fears of global supply shortages, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
Those concerns have since been slightly assuaged due to the US-Iran provisional ceasefire.
This is the highest regulated price of a litre of diesel ever recorded in Slovenia. For 50 litres of diesel customers now have to pay €94.70.
The regulated prices of regular petrol and heating oil have also increased. A litre of petrol now costs €1.653, up by 3.7 cents, with the price tag of 50 litres being €82.65, and the price of a litre of heating oil is 9.9 cents higher at €1.555.
The government has been striving to cushion the impact of the price hikes, but lowering excise duties on diesel and heating oil is no longer an option because those are already at their lowest possible level. The environmental levy remains suspended though and retailers' margins are capped.
The new prices will remain in effect through 13 April, as the regulated prices are now adjusted weekly instead of every two weeks due to the current energy crisis.
Meanwhile, prices at service stations along the motorways have been fully liberalised since 20 March, a move the government made to address rising demand and put an end to "fuel tourism", which had flourished as a result of Slovenia's having lower prices than its neighbouring countries.
Iran's selective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's major energy transit routes, has sparked fears of fuel shortages, and just a few days ago there were speculations diesel pumps in Europe might soon run dry.
However, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on 7 April. The Strait of Hormuz is now expected to fully reopen. Oil prices have dived as hopes of transit flows resuming have grown, but experts had warned earlier that the reopening of the crucial corridor would not bring immediate relief to the crisis.
More funds for EV purchase subsidies amid crisis-driven push for electrification
The EU has been calling on member states to introduce measures to mitigate the energy crisis such as lowering motorway speed limits and promoting the use of public transport and carpooling.
The same sentiment has been shared by Slovenia's Climate Council, an independent scientific advisory body to the government, which recently came up with several climate-friendly proposals, including additional subsidies for small and affordable EVs and a limited-period measure of free public transport.
The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy has since announced that it has updated its call for subsidies for new and used EVs, increasing the funds available by €3.2 million to some €19 million due to increased interest.
Given the oil market developments in recent weeks, it is likely that people will continue relying more and more on EVs and hybrids. The latest data by the Chamber of Commerce shows that sales of battery-powered cars surged by 142% in March year-on-year.
Photo: Xinhua/STA
