MOL to increase deliveries to NIS

After the Serbian oil company NIS did not receive a further exemption from US sanctions, the Croatian oil transporter Janaf can no longer deliver oil to the Pančevo refinery, despite having received a postponement until 15 October.

As Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced, “Hungary is maintaining continuous contact with Serbia, and since MOL, as the region’s largest energy company, plays an important role in oil and fuel supply in Serbia, Serbia can rely on the company’s increasing deliveries. However, these cannot fully compensate for the shipments coming from Croatia.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that the refinery can operate without an additional oil supply until 1 November and added that when it comes to fuel, there will be no problems until the New Year.

Before the sanctions entered into force, the permanent working body of the Serbian Organisation for the National Strategy for Crisis Situations in the Oil Sector discussed the market situation and the supply of oil derivatives.

They noted that various scenarios had been developed to preserve the stability of supply and ensure the sustainable functioning of the oil and oil derivatives market, in case sanctions came into effect.

“We have sufficient reserves of oil and oil derivatives, and we will do everything to ensure that Serbia’s energy system is not jeopardised in terms of supplying consumers and industry,” said Saša Koković, Acting Assistant Minister of Mining and Energy for Oil and Gas. “Various measures and activities have been defined, which will be implemented depending on the situation, including increasing the import of oil and derivatives and boosting transport capacities.”

Koković added that the railway terminal in Sremski Karlovci had recently been put into operation, which can be used by several energy operators and enables more efficient use of rail transport.

Tomislav Mićović, Secretary General of the Association of Oil Companies of Serbia, presented the oil derivatives import plan for October and noted that imports have already increased compared to 2023.

Janaf announced that it continues to actively explore solutions within the applicable regulatory framework, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Croatia and its American legal advisors.