Slovenia is facing fuel shortages as supply disruptions and rising demand put pressure on the country's energy system – prompting emergency governmental action.

On Saturday evening – the day before a tight election which left the country's political future in the balance – the government temporarily limited fuel purchases, making Slovenia the first EU country to do so since the Iran conflict began. 

Until further notice, customers with private vehicles were reduced to 50 liters per day with a 200-liter limit for companies and other special cases such as farmers. The government had already begun releasing strategic reserves in an effort to stabilize the market.

Across the country, long queues have formed at petrol stations, with some locations reporting limited availability of diesel. Notices warning customers about shortages have become increasingly common, reflecting the strain on supply chains. 

Despite the visible pressure, many drivers told CGTN they are not engaging in panic buying.

"I think that's nonsense. Even if the price goes up ten cents it is not a disaster," said motorcyclist Robert.

Others, however, expressed concern over how the situation has been handled. 

"I wish they would have released fuel reserves sooner and bought more reserves of the fuel – we knew a month ago there was going to be difficulties," said car driver Severin.

Cross-border concerns

Even with the release of strategic fuel reserves, logistical challenges remain a key issue. Many distributors store fuel outside the country, and transport capacity has struggled to keep pace with the recent spike in demand.

Analysts say consumption has increased sharply, driven in part by behavior linked to previous crises. 

"They still remember 2020, when the prices were higher for a longer period of time, so they are hoarding the gasoline if they can," said Karel Lipnik, a financial analyst at Delo daily. "They're buying as much as they can, and I think that's the main reason." 

Cross-border demand is also contributing to the strain. Slovenia's relatively low fuel prices compared to neighboring countries have attracted foreign buyers, further increasing consumption.

"Slovenia has the lowest price within all the neighboring countries, and it's also spring, so a lot of farmers buy fuel to do some farming on the fields," Lipnik said.

While fuel prices in Slovenia remain state-regulated, the impact of global market disruptions is becoming increasingly evident. Analysts warn that the period of stable and relatively low fuel prices may be coming to an end, as external shocks continue to influence supply and demand.