US extends license to Serbian oil company NIS despite sanctions
Kyiv • UNN
Serbian NIS has been granted permission to operate until mid-June for oil imports. Belgrade expects Russian Gazprom Neft to withdraw from its shareholders.
Serbian oil company NIS, which is partially owned by Russian businesses and is under US sanctions, has received a new temporary operating license. It has been extended until mid-June. This was reported by Euractiv, according to UNN.
Details
The company is currently 45% owned by Gazprom Neft. Sanctioned Serbian oil company NIS received a temporary US operating license on Friday, Serbia's energy minister said, as Belgrade hopes a deal for its majority Russian owners to exit the company will be signed soon.
According to preliminary data, the operating license for Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) has been extended until mid-June. This will allow the country to continue importing oil and avoid shutting down its only refinery under pressure from Washington for tough measures against Russian energy.
We received good news from the United States
The operating license issued to NIS has been extended for 60 days, which is very important for more stable planning of crude oil purchases, the official emphasized.
Recall
Earlier, Hungarian energy company MOL Group signed a preliminary agreement to acquire 56.15% of Serbian NIS shares from Russian Gazprom Neft. The deal requires approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control due to sanctions.