Negotiations over the future ownership and operational structure of NIS are ongoing as regulatory deadlines approach. The process involves talks between Hungarian MOL and Russian Gazprom Neft, according to Serbian officials. Efforts to determine the company’s future ownership and operating setup remain in progress ahead of multiple time-bound requirements.
OFAC extension request for MOL talks
Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović said MOL has formally requested an additional 30-day extension from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The extension is intended to allow more time for discussions, with the current deadline due to expire on 6 June.
Đedović added that MOL believes further time is needed to advance the talks and explore a viable solution for NIS’s future structure. She said both Gazprom Neft representatives and MOL management have indicated willingness to continue negotiations. All sides, she said, remain engaged in seeking an agreement.
NIS operating license renewal deadline
A separate regulatory deadline is also approaching for NIS, which must apply for renewal of its operating license. The existing license expires on 16 June, according to Đedović.
The minister said NIS has previously received temporary extensions while discussions over its ownership and status continued. She did not specify whether any further temporary arrangements have been granted beyond those earlier extensions.
Refining continues amid ownership uncertainty
Despite the ongoing uncertainty around ownership and structure, NIS operations are described as stable. Refinery activity has continued without interruption, with processing levels holding at around 10,000 tons per month, Đedović said. The minister reported that production has not stopped during the period of negotiations.
Đedović also pointed to volatility in global energy markets, saying external conditions remain challenging for Serbia and the broader European energy sector. She said domestic measures have helped maintain market stability and uninterrupted fuel supply within Serbia.
