Minister: State Releasing 5,000 Tons of Eurodiesel from Mandatory Reserves

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic (BETAPHOTO/Ministarstvo ruradstva i energetike/Nenad Kostic)

Serbia's caretaker government has decided to release 5,000 tons of diesel from mandatory reserves, caretaker Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Sept. 24.

"Like we promised, the state is taking the necessary measures to protect citizens so that they do not feel the consequences of the global energy crisis, just like they haven't so far. This is why we have decided to release 5,000 tons of stored eurodiesel from state reserves into the market," she said in a statement.

She recalled that extremely high consumption is expected in October or around 205,000 tons and that companies have stopped importing due to the high cost of diesel in the market, which is a consequence of global conflicts and disturbances, while logistical costs are high due to the low level of the Danube. "This is why we reacted as quickly as possible. We expect contracts to be signed with companies in the next day or two and for the withdrawal to begin," the minister said.

She stressed that stores of diesel in the state storage facilities will remain at a high level because the state planned and filled its storage facilities on time and that reserves of petroleum products have doubled since 2022.