The Montenegrin public learned two days ago that a ship with 30,000 tons of bulk ammonium nitrate had sailed from the Russian Federation to the Port of Bar, from where it should be transported to Serbia. The transit of such goods is considered dangerous, especially if stored inadequately. The Port of Bar announced yesterday that it adopted a safety plan following the transshipment process. It added that the railway company adopted a safety plan following the transportation process. The entire process is supervised by a team of people from Azotara, Pancevo, who have decades of experience in working with nitrogen fertilizers, the Port of Bar claims.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not responsible for the inspection supervision over the transshipment and transit of ammonium nitrate, said yesterday the EPA director, Milan Gazdic. Environmental and safety risks are reduced to a minimum if all prescribed rules and procedures are followed, Gazdic explained.
Ammonium nitrate is not, by itself, explosive, but explosive mixtures of various properties are easily formed from it when combined with primary explosives, he added.
He recalled that the Law on Chemicals does not apply to chemicals that are under customs control, in customs warehouses or in free zones, intended for re-export or transit, if those chemicals are not processed.
