Serbia May Be Hurt by Diesel Shortage as Workers Block Danube

Serbia may be hit by diesel shortages as four barges with fuel belonging to Naftna Industrija Srbije AD (NIIS), majority-owned by OAO Gazprom Neft (GAZP), remain stuck in the Danube where workers are blocking the river over unpaid wages.

While NIS is currently “analyzing” alternative supply routes, it may be “forced to limit diesel supplies both for its own filling stations and its clients if the river blockade continues,” the company said in an e-mailed statement today.

The four barges are carrying about 4,000 tons of diesel fuel and are prevented from reaching filling stations across Serbia as workers of the Novi Sad-based Dunav Grupa Agregati AD protest over what they claim are overdue wages.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gordana Filipovic in Belgrade at gfilipovic@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James M. Gomez at jagomez@bloomberg.net