Representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy met with a delegation from China Energy International Group and Sinopec to discuss potential cooperation on the construction of an oil refinery in Smederevo, the ministry announced.
The project is based on a Framework Agreement signed in 2023 between the Government of Serbia and China Energy International Group.
During the meeting, ministry officials briefed the Chinese delegation on Serbia’s existing refining capacities, plans for oil supply diversification, and the construction of the Serbia–Hungary oil pipeline. They also discussed current issues related to domestic crude oil supply, particularly following the expiration of the U.S. OFAC license for Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS).
The ministry representatives informed their Chinese counterparts that Serbia is in the process of adopting three new laws regulating the oil, gas, and strategic reserves sectors, with final parliamentary approval expected by the end of the year.
Zhang Xinming, President of Sinopec Engineering Group, presented the company’s portfolio and expertise in oil, gas, and hydrogen projects in China and abroad. He expressed confidence that Sinopec, together with its partners, can contribute to the development of Serbia’s oil and gas industry, petrochemical sector, and the country’s energy transition efforts.
The meeting was also attended by Wang Bo, President of China Energy International for South Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as representatives of GPEC, a Sinopec subsidiary specializing in design and construction services for the petrochemical industry.
