Ukrainian Army Claims Strike on Russian Refinery Near Moscow
BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia faces a potential energy crisis as U.S. sanctions against Serbian oil company NIS, a key player in the country’s energy sector, take effect following implementation by the US Treasury Department on October 9. The sanctions are part of a broader effort to pressure Russia over its war in ukraine.
NIS, wich controls two refineries in Novi Sad adn Pancevo supplying approximately 80% of Serbia’s oil market, reportedly has reserves sufficient to operate until November 25, according to company representatives.
The situation has prompted the Serbian Minister of Energy, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, to announce the possibility of government intervention, including a potential “resumption of the company” by the state. “I know President Vucic is against nationalization, as are many of us in government,” she stated, adding that an “extraordinaire” government meeting was scheduled for Sunday to address the issue.
“We will not allow our country to be put in danger, but we may face some of the most arduous decisions in our history in the days to come,” djedovic Handanovic continued.
Serbia, a candidate for European union membership, has not imposed sanctions on Russia and remains heavily reliant on russian gas imports.
According to the minister,Russian authorities have indicated a willingness to “cede control and influence in society (…) to a third party.” “I hope our Russian friends will understand the seriousness of the situation and help us overcome it,” she said.
U.S. authorities have granted “authorization for negotiations on the property, valid until Febuary 13,” but this authorization does not suspend the sanctions. “We did not get a single day to allow NIS to continue operating,” Djedovic Handanovic explained.
Gazprom Neft currently owns nearly 45% of NIS.Gazprom recently transferred an 11.3% stake to Intelligence, a St. Petersburg-based company.The Serbian state holds approximately 30% of NIS, with the remainder owned by minority shareholders.
