Esmark

Serbia has put the troubled giant up for a sale after it spent a year under the management of a Dutch-based company HPK Engineering BV and unsuccessful privatization talks with US company Esmark.The government earlier said it was negotiating with China's HBIS Group, the world's second largest steel producer, which has reportedly expressed interest in investing some 300 million euro in the mill.

HPK Engineering to manage Zelezara Smederevo

BELGRADE -- The Serbian government has decided to entrust the management and consulting of Zelezara Smederevo to the company HPK Engineering BV.

The Holland-based company is represented by John Goodish and Peter Kamaras.

BELGRADE - The companies, which applied to manage the Serbian steel mill Zelezara Smederevo, have finished their presentations, and the government will continue to negotiate with the ones that have the best programs.

Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertic said that the decision on the choice of the company will be announced in the coming days.

Slovak businessman sued for "sabotaging steel mill talks"

BELGRADE -- Esmark owner James Bouchard has confirmed that a criminal complaint has been filed against Peter Kamaras for "sabotaging" the acquisition of Zelezara.

Zelezara publishes call for new management

BELGRADE -- Zelezara Smederevo issued a public call in Belgrade-based daily Politika on Friday for a new management open until March 6.

Until that date Zelezara will maintain the current monthly production capacities at 30,000 tons of steel, Tanjug reported.

BELGRADE - Zelezara Smederevo issued a public call in Belgrade-based daily Politika on Friday for a new management, and until the closure of the public call on March 6, Zelezara will keep the current production capacities at 30,000 tons of steel monthly.

The deadline for the submission of proposals for cooperation and concluding of the agreement is March 6, reads the public call.

Government rejected the offer from "Esmark steel" Plan B for Serbian Ironworks

"Esmark" is not coming to Smederevo, but "Serbian Ironworks" will continue with its usuall activity, the government announced yesterday.

BELGRADE - The Serbian government decided not to sign a contract with the US steel producer and distributor Esmark, after being advised to do so by the privatization advisor (KPMG) and the commission for the implementation of a strategic partnership model for the privatization of Zelezara Smederevo, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday.

PM says he discussed "gas supplies from U.S."

BELGRADE -- Serbia "must take care of its energy security" and discussing gas supplies with U.S. representatives "does not mean it is turning its back on Russia."

That is what Prime Minister Aleksanadar Vucic told a news conference in Belgrade on Thursday.

"Austerity measures will be necessary in 2018 as well"

BELGRADE -- The Fiscal Council - an an independent state organ that reports to parliament - says the three-year plan adopted by the government was "good in principle."