Skopje, 9 April 2026 (MIA) - Despite the drop in the prices of oil and petroleum products the challenges with the prices of fuel remain and are being monitored on a daily basis, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists on Thursday, adding that the Government is handling the situation quite steadily despite, he said, the historically largest crisis.

Mickoski said the country has sufficient reserves and there are no plans to restrict sales of fuel to citizens from neighboring countries.

“Yesterday the global markets registered a drop in the price of oil and petroleum products by around 20 dollars per barrel. The price is hovering between US$95 and 97 today as well. This is much higher than the price before the crisis, which was between US$65 and 70, but not as high as it was – US$120. So, we are subsidizing fuel prices on a daily basis through the reduced VAT rate from 18 to 10 percent, and in line with the latest decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission there is a reduction of excise duties by Mden 4 per liter for diesel and Mden 2 per liter for unleaded fuels,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister said there is increased demand at gas stations in the country, even exceeding two million liters of fuel on certain days.

“So far, we have no reports about any disruptions in supply, we don’t intend to introduce restrictions. In this way, we are also helping our neighbors because several airports from the neighboring countries are receiving kerosene from us. Many of the citizens from the neighboring countries are buying fuel and diesel from our gas stations. Certain gas stations have increased consumption, so for now, I would say despite the historically largest crisis, as a Government we are managing the situation fairly steadily,” Mickoski said.

Photo: MIA