President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić stated today, after a meeting with the teams responsible for the country’s energy stability and security, that Serbia has not received a positive decision from the US regarding a licence to continue the operation of oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), which is why the Serbian side has given permission to shut down the Pančevo Refinery.
Q:
A:
Serbia has not received positive decision from US over NIS
Belgrade,
2 December 2025
Vučić announced that the Minister of Mining and Energy will inform NIS today that we have no indication that the US will grant a licence to operate the Pančevo Refinery, which will cause its operation to cease.
It is unequivocal that the Russians do not want to sell their ownership stake in NIS, with the issue being political rather than monetary, the President emphasised, adding that there is no reason for any panic, because there is enough of all oil derivatives.
He said that the state will enable payment operations for NIS through to the end of the week at its own risk, ensuring that the company has enough time to settle its obligations to all suppliers and pay its employees, as well as to prepare them for everything that follows.
According to him, enough kerosene has been secured and air traffic will also function completely normally.
We will have enough fuel until the end of January and, as we announced, we will make a final decision on 15 January if, in the worst case scenario, they do not complete talks with potential buyers by then, Vučić emphasised.
The President of Serbia also announced that if Serbia does not receive a gas agreement with Russia by Friday, it will start negotiations on the purchase of gas from another party as early as Monday.
-
Author: Tanjug
-
Belgrade, 16 January 2026More than one-third of Growth Plan funds directed to energy sector
-
Belgrade, 15 January 2026Goal to finalise NIS negotiations by end of week
-
Belgrade, 23 December 2025Enhancing implementation of IPARD III programme
-
Belgrade, 12 December 2025Construction of gas interconnector with North Macedonia by end-2027
-
Belgrade, 8 December 2025Enormous public interest in registering illegal facilities
-
Belgrade, 8 December 2025State doing everything to preserve stability of energy supplies
-
Belgrade, 5 December 2025State doing everything to avoid shortage of oil derivatives
-
Belgrade, 2 December 2025Spanish companies invited to invest in Serbian agriculture
-
Belgrade, 26 November 2025Highest level of cooperation, information exchange with Hungary in field of energy
-
Belgrade, 25 November 2025OFAC’s decision on NIS licence in next four days