Serbia’s oil company NIS has filed a new request with the US Treasury for an extension of the special licence that would allow it to continue operating after the current licence expires on October 30, Interfax reported, citing the broadcaster RTRS. The request argues that NIS is important for continuity of supply to the Serbian market and that regular operation of its refinery at Pančevo, with capacity of 4.8 million tonnes a year, is key to Serbia’s energy stability. NIS, the country’s only oil and gas producer, was placed on the US sanctions list in early 2025 as a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, and Hungary’s MOL has agreed to buy a 56.15 percent stake from Gazprom Neft in a transaction that still requires approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Serbia's NIS asks Washington to extend operating licence
Serbia's oil company NIS has filed a new request with the US Treasury for an extension of the special licence that lets it keep operating after the current licence expires on October 30.
Why it matters: NIS is Serbia's only oil producer and runs the Pančevo refinery, so a licence lapse on October 30 would put the country's fuel supply in question while Hungary's MOL is still seeking US approval to buy Gazprom Neft's stake.
Data as of Interfax report of October 24, 2026, in Russian, read in full in translation, reporting broadcaster RTRS for the filing; TASS carried the same request the same day. Single originating source, with no US Treasury or Serbian government confirmation read in this run. Developing item.
Sources
- NIS requested from the US Treasury an extension of its licence to continue activities after October 30 - Interfax, in Russian - 2026-10-24
- NIS asked the US for an extension of its operating licence after October 30 - TASS, in Russian - 2026-10-24