Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović stated that this morning, after almost 100 days, the first crude oil arrived for NIS via JANAF. It will be delivered this week, which means that the Pancevo Refinery will start operating around 16 January. The first diesel from production is expected to be released onto the market around 26-27 January.
She said that she expects the talks between Gazpromneft and MOL on the purchase of the Russian stake in NIS to be completed and that OFAC will once again extend NIS’s operating license.
She added that, after the first 85,000 tons, an additional 35,000-45,000 tons of oil are expected to arrive next week, in addition to the current domestic crude oil stock of around 120,000 tons. This amount will ensure that the refinery can continue operating beyond 23 January.
Discussions between MOL and Gazpromneft
“What is ongoing and what has been discussed between MOL and Gazpromneft, regarding the sale of the Russian ownership stake – these talks are taking their course. We, of course, are participating in them. Serbia is a strategic partner; this is critical infrastructure located in our country, and we absolutely have an interest in protecting, first of all, the interests of our country, but also in possibly increasing our participation in NIS, and that is also being discussed,” the minister stated.
She added that, to extend the operating license, the US OFAC expects to see the main foundations of the contract. The first negotiations between MOL and Gazpromneft are expected to be completed soon, after which they will contact OFAC to request a license extension until the final negotiations are concluded and the transactions are signed.
Cooperation between Serbia and Hungary
She also added that she expects a visit to Serbia by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó before the end of this week.
“We will discuss our overall cooperation, of course, but also a possible international agreement between Serbia and Hungary in the context of NIS. We also have other areas of cooperation, regarding energy, so we will continue our strategic discussions on that issue,” added Đedović Handanović.