NATO strikes leave three plants in ruin
15 Jan 2000
The intensification of NATO air strikes against Serbian infrastructure has destroyed three plants in Pancevo, a Belgrade industrial area. All bridges across the Danube connecting Serbia to other countries are reported to be unusable or destroyed, increasing the cost of bulk chemical transport through the area by up to 30 per cent.
Petrohemija's vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and ethylene plant was hit releasing a cloud of toxic gas.
A representative of the Serbian Environment Ministry said air strikes on an oil refinery had created an oil spill in the Danube stretching 15 to 20 km toward the Black Sea, threatening ecological disaster. Damage to the nearby Azotara fertiliser plant is also posing a risk to its environs and to the Danube.Transportation of commodities such as styrene, glycols and aromatics to Western Europe has been disrupted as trucks and barges are redirected to avoid Serbia. The Bulgaria/Romania river bridge was the only remaining route for land deliveries from Europe to the Middle East.
