PUHOVAC: IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SRPSKA THAT NIS REGAINS ITS LICENSE

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 12 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska Ned Puhovac said that it is of exceptional importance for Republika Srpska that the Naftna industrija Srbije/Petroleum Industry of Serbia /NIS/ obtains a license for the operation of the Pančevo Refinery, since these areas receive 20 percent of their oil and petroleum products from Serbia.

"I hope that a license will be granted and that we will be able to rely on the said fuel," Puhovac said at a press conference following a session of the Government of Republika Srpska.

NIS has requested a new special license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury that would allow the company to continue its operational activities without disruption after March 20, when the validity of the previous license expires.