President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić after a meeting with the teams in charge of the country's energy stability and security, said that there is no good news regarding NIS, which is under US sanctions. Washington did not extend the license for the operation of NIS, so Refinery in Pancevo will shut down its facilities, and NBS will suspend payment transactions with the Oil Industry of Serbia by the end of the week.
He pointed out that until the end of January we have more than enough fuel and fuel oil. As the biggest problem for consumers, he stated that the NIS pumps will be closed, and from December 13, so will Lukoil, and he warned that because of this there may be crowds at other gas stations.
He also announced that if Serbia does not extend the gas arrangement with Russia, it will be procured from the other side.
"We expected to get a license to continue supplying." oil our refinery in Pancevo, but we did not receive a positive decision. I am disappointed," said Vucic.
The last hours are ticking for NIS: If the Americans do not respond today, the Refinery will stop
"It is clear that the Russians do not want to sell and that they are not being sold, and that is their right - they are the owners, but we have a lot of trouble with that," he added.
"Janaf did not even allow us to export oil that was not intended for the Refinery"
In accordance with the measures, we continued to import petroleum products. Our warehouses are full, said Vučić.
And Croatian Janaf did not even allow us to import oil that was not intended for the Refinery but for our reserves. And we guaranteed that the NIS would not get that oil, offered to have their own observers, both they and the Americans, said Vučić.
He actually admitted that no one believes him.
If we only import and consume reserves, fuel prices and inflation will rise
"They tell us that it is not only the NIS under sanctions, but the whole of Serbia, while the Americans say otherwise," says the president.
"We gave permission for the refinery to stop working"
Minister of Energy Đedović Handanović will inform the NIS that we have no indication that the Americans will grant a license for the continuation of work, which will cause the refinery to stop working, said Vučić.
"We gave the permission to stop the operation of the Refinery".
Speaking about secondary sanctions, Vučić explained what problems will arise when payment transactions with NIS stop.
"We have agreed to ensure payment transactions with NIS by the end of the week, for NIS to pay salaries and suppliers, and after that we will decide day by day," says Vučić.
He explained that the state will take a risk because the Central Bank as well as other banks can fall under secondary sanctions at any moment if they do not suspend payment transactions with NIS.
The mentioned meeting was attended by the Prime Minister of Serbia Đuro Macut, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić and other ministers, then representatives of the energy sector, NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković, Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces and other representatives of state institutions and companies.
The smell of recession
