Bajatovic: I expect OFAC to extend licences for NIS, MOL for another month

BELGRADE - Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Monday he expected the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to extend licences for the Serbian oil company NIS and Hungary's MOL for another month.

Since October 9, 2025, NIS has been under US sanctions due to its Russian-majority ownership.

Recently, the OFAC extended an operating licence for NIS until July 31.

A licence for MOL-Gazprom neft talks about an acquisition of a Russian majority stake in NIS by MOL was also extended until the same date.

"If you have seen the official statements by the president (Aleksandar Vucic), we have allegedly received a friendly warning from the Americans that neither of the licences will be extended, but I think both will," Bajatovic told the RTS.

He said patience regarding a resolution of the NIS issue was "running out" and that Serbian authorities would have to take certain steps unless a deal was reached.

"We have to take action, or other steps by the authorities will have to follow after that, but no one needs that. The authorities do not need a loss of trust, those who are interested in the Serbian marked do not need that either, and that is also not what investors need. We do not need such a message," Bajatovic said.

Bajatovic: I expect gas deal with Russia to be extended until end-2026 and in 2027

BELGRADE - Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Monday he expected a deal on supply of Russian natural gas to be extended again in the next quarter, as well as in Q1 and Q2 of next year.

He said the European gas price had reached its 2026 high after rising by nearly 30 pct since April, and that the gas price for households would remain unchanged while businesses would be buying gas under the agreement with Russia.

Speaking to the RTS, Bajatovic said Serbia had secured sufficient gas reserves for next winter, with 482 mln cubic m of gas stored at a Banatski Dvor facility.

"Our commercial capacities are 93 pct full," he added.

Serbia can get its gas from several directions - from Azerbaijan, Greece, Turkey and via the North Sea, but those quantities are significantly more expensive than Russian gas, Bajatovic added.

"We are in no jeopardy when it comes to quantities, we are in no jeopardy when it comes to capacities, but we will be trying to keep the gas price in Serbia competitive," he noted.

Asked to comment on announced US gas tariffs, Bajatovic said Serbia would have no problems with gas supply and that supply of Russian gas would not be in jeopardy at least until January 1, 2028.