HANDANOVIĆ: THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT OFAC WILL EXTEND NIS LICENCE

BELGRADE, JULY 31 /SRNA/ - Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović said today that there are indications that the Petroleum Industry of Serbia /NIS/ will receive a licence from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control /OFAC/ to continue its operations, and that an official letter from the United States is expected to formalise the decision.

Handanović stressed that the licence extension is crucial for NIS to continue importing crude oil needed for the Pančevo Refinery to operate.

"We are eagerly awaiting news from the United States. The indications are that NIS will receive a licence. We do not know for what period, and the longer the period, the easier it will be to secure the purchase and transport of crude oil," Handanović told reporters.

She added that a licence is also awaited to allow the continuation of negotiations between the Russian owners and Hungarians over the purchase of the Russian stake in NIS.

"MOL has also requested a licence to continue the negotiations. We hope that the US administration will show understanding, but there is also pressure, on the other hand, for the transaction to be completed and for us to reach a long-term solution regarding NIS," Handanović said.