US extends license for Serbian oil company NIS
Serbia's Minister of Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic stated this, Euractiv reports, according to Ukrinform.
"We have received good news from the United States. The operating licence granted to NIS has been extended for 60 days, which is very important for more stable planning of crude oil purchases," Djedovic Handanovic said, as quoted by the national broadcaster's website.
NIS, which supplies 80% of Serbia's fuel market, was forced in December to halt production at its main oil refinery in the city of Pančevo after oil supplies were cut off due to sanctions that had long been delayed.
The extension of the U.S. license allows Serbia to continue importing oil and avoid another shutdown of its only refinery under pressure from Washington, which is taking tough measures against Russian energy resources, the report says.
NIS—owned 44.9% by Gazprom Neft, 11.3% by Gazprom, and 29.9% by the Serbian government—is Serbia's only oil refinery, located in Pančevo near Belgrade. The refinery has a capacity of 4.8 million tonnes per year and covers most of the country's needs.
As Ukrinform previously reported, in January the Hungarian company MOL and Russia's Gazprom Neft agreed on a deal under which the Hungarian company would gain control of Serbia's only refinery.
On January 9, NIS announced the import of the first batches of oil needed to resume operations at the country's only refinery after the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Photo: nis.rs
