Sanctions against NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije) are set to take effect in three days, on Friday, March 28, unless the company’s request for a new delay is approved by US authorities. While awaiting official support from the Serbian government for this request, few solutions are available, and the situation is being closely monitored, as the supply issue could potentially spread across the region. In the meantime, reports have surfaced suggesting that Janaf, a company involved in the oil transport sector, may acquire the Russian stake in NIS. Janaf, which handles a significant portion of Serbia’s oil imports, had signed a contract with MOL Group to transport 2.1 million tons of oil until the end of 2025. At the time of the agreement, MOL had stated that it could double the delivery of oil derivatives to Serbia if sanctions were imposed. But has that plan remained in place?
Čaba Zoter, Vice President for Oil Products at MOL Group, told Blic that the company is prepared to double oil deliveries to Serbia in case of a supply crisis.
“However, as I’ve already mentioned, there are currently significant logistical challenges for the efficient transport and distribution of fuel. Without active involvement and support from decision-makers in Serbia, increasing fuel imports is not feasible. Immediate action is required: access to all domestic storage capacities, priority distribution through the railway system, operational use of completed transshipment points on railways, and inclusion of all ships under international flags in storage capacities,” Zoter explained.
He added that MOL has already made some logistical adjustments to be able to respond quickly if needed.
“Although the MOL Serbia warehouse in Sremski Karlovci originally had five diesel tanks with a total capacity of 8,000 m³, and three gasoline tanks with a total capacity of 4,000 m³, last year we decided to expand it with two new tanks, with a total capacity of 2,500 m³. This would significantly increase our storage capacity and enable greater supply to the Serbian market. However, we’ve been trying to obtain the necessary permits for these tanks for almost a year now. There is no more time for administrative delays; we need to focus on operational matters. We are in constant contact with ministry representatives to find the best solution, but it is important to note that if the necessary measures aren’t taken, Serbia could face serious supply risks in the future,” Zoter said.
Despite these efforts, Zoter emphasized that even if MOL maximizes its logistics efficiency and doubles its supplies, “we will only be able to cover about one-third of Serbia’s market needs.”
“We are doing everything in our power to help, but if the local refinery closes, we will not be able to fully meet the local demand,” Zoter concluded.
