Djedovic Handanovic: We will propose final position on NIS to MOL by end of day

ATHENS - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic told Tanjug the Serbian government would by the end of the day propose to Hungary's MOL its final position on talks on the firm's acquisition of a Russian-majority stake in the Serbian oil company NIS and that the MOL board of directors would make a decision on the position on Monday.

Djedovic Handanovic, who is in Athens for a meeting of ministers of energy of Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, said Serbian government officials had held talks with MOL representatives on Thursday and Wednesday and that an agreement had been reached on some issues, and that the operations of the Pancevo refinery remained the key issue.

"A few outstanding issues remain, the most important issue for us being future operations of the Pancevo refinery and ways to ensure optimal operations, which are important for our country when it comes to coverage of the Serbian market, but also in terms of the impact on GDP, economic growth and security of supply. In that sense, we will propose to MOL our final position by the end of the day. We have discussed it in detail and exchanged views on it, and there are not many surprises there. The MOL board of directors will be deciding on it on Monday," she said.

The minister said Serbia remained committed to finding compromise and a long-term solution for NIS.

"We have already said, not at all costs - not at the cost of our country's important, vital interests being endangered, and we have conveyed that to MOL representatives as well," Djedovic Handanovic noted.

Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia's goal is to be the key transit country on energy routes

BELGRADE - Serbia's strategic goal is to position itself as the key transit country on energy supply routes, which would directly bolster its geopolitical position, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Friday.

Addressing a Business Summit 2026 panel via a video message, Djedovic Handanovic said connectivity in the energy sector was very important as the 2022 energy crisis had demonstrated that countries were more resilient if they had more developed regional ties and larger cross-border capacities.

"I think those are key topics we must aspire to, and objectives for the future - better regional connectivity for the sake of greater energy security. In the past four years, Serbia began actively increasing its cross-border capacities in terms of both electricity and gas," the minister said.

She said Serbia wanted to make the most of its geographic position to become the key transit country on energy supply routes in the region.

"That way, we will also strengthen our geopolitical position," Djedovic Handanovic noted.

She also announced an extensive cycle of investments in the energy sector until 2035 and said it would be worth 14.4 bln euros and include investments in gas infrastructure, the transmission system and new production capacities.