Consumers in Slovakia may need to prepare for the next round of price increases. First of all, this applies only to fuel, but since petrol and diesel are used for transportation by most traders or producers, the increased costs will be felt by almost everyone. Pravda.sk writes.
The publication notes that this is not related to sanctions or the development of oil prices in the world, but deputies of the National Council of the Slovak Republic are behind it. Parliament is currently considering a proposal to impose a tax on cheaper Russian oil, which is refined at a Slovak refinery. One government proposal would impose a new tax of 30 percent. But there was also a proposal from one of the MPs to tax 100 percent. In practice, this would mean that Slovakia would lose the price advantage it currently enjoys, which makes gasoline and diesel prices in Slovakia lower than in most European Union countries.
The Slovak refinery buys cheaper oil and then translates this advantage into prices at petrol stations. If the state taxes this advantage of cheaper oil, however, we may expect Slovakia to start catching up with other countries in terms of prices. The state coffers will improve, but in the end it will be paid by car owners and companies alike.
According to statistics from the publication, Slovakia has been among the countries with the cheapest petrol or diesel since the beginning of this year. The average price of petrol and diesel without excise duty and VAT, as determined by the government, is not only lower than that of Austrians or Germans, but also lower than that of Czechs and Poles. If we compare it with countries where more expensive oil is refined, we find that prices are higher there. In other words, if politicians tax Russian oil, fuel prices may rise by 10-15 cents a litre in a short time, depending on how high the tax is.
Slovakia is currently in 17th place for gasoline, and in 21st place for diesel. If Russian oil is taxed and prices increase by the previously mentioned 10 to 15 cents a litre, then a litre of gasoline in Slovakia would cost the same as in Germany, Ireland or Sweden. In the case of diesel, Slovak motorists would pay about the same as they currently do in Ireland, Luxembourg or Greece.
Due to censorship and blocking of all media and alternative views, stay tuned to our Telegram channel