Minister: Low River Levels, Global Circumstances Impede Petroleum Product Import

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic (BETAPHOTO/MINISTARSTVO RUDARSTVA I ENERGETIKE SRBIJE/Gasprom Njeft)

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on July 22 that the import of petroleum products is stymied due to low Danube River water levels and global circumstances, specifically disruption on the global market and rising crude oil prices, adding that only around 25 percent of petroleum product import planned for July has been fulfilled.

"To date only around 25 percent petroleum product import planned for July has been fulfilled. Due to low Danube water levels import is impeded as barges can only carry 30-40 percent of the total capacity. In this situation, transport is executed via trucks or rail, but that is not sufficient to import all amounts planned -- it is more expensive and affects the already exceptionally high prices," said Djedovic Handanovic, who spoke with Tomislav Micovic, general secretary of the Association of Oil Companies of Serbia, about the state of and supply to the petroleum product market.

Petroleum product reserves were also a subject of the conversation, it was reported. "Due to increased demand and impeded import, the stores of wholesaler oil companies are considerably reduced. State diesel reserves stand at 269,000 tons, with additional amounts on their way," Djedovic Handanovic said.