The full-scale sanctions imposed on NIS by the US Department of Finance have been postponed until March 28, 2025, according to the license received by the company. Serbian officials discussed how the state will utilize the 30-day delay on the special show “Puls Srbije” on Kurir television.
Stefan Srbljanović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, reassured citizens that there is no reason to panic, emphasizing that gas reserves are secure and the country is well-prepared. He highlighted the diplomatic efforts that led to the delay and expressed optimism about resolving the issue.
Dušan Bajatović, Director of Srbijagas, stressed that NIS is a Serbian company, created under Serbian laws and serves the national interest. He noted that the most significant impact of the sanctions would be financial, but assured that nationalization is not a concern.
Bajatović also remarked that the sanctions are political in nature and will not severely impact Serbia’s industry. He suggested that Serbia should act swiftly to mitigate the effects and continue its efforts in securing energy supplies.
Nebojša Obrknezhev, from the Center for Social Stability, emphasized that Serbia has the capacity to import crude oil and that the construction of an oil pipeline to Hungary could be completed within six months, assuming necessary permits are obtained.
