Dr. Michał Paszkowski, an analyst at the Institute of Central Europe, appeared on TVP World’s “Midday Report”, where he commented on the Hungarian energy company MOL’s acquisition of shares in the Serbian firm Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS).
The deal involves MOL taking over a 56.15% stake in NIS from Russian entities Gazprom Neft and JSC Intelligence, a company capital-linked to Gazprom Capital. NIS operates Serbia’s only oil refinery in Pančevo and is a key fuel supplier across the Western Balkans, which gives the transaction clear regional significance.
In the interview, Dr. Paszkowski stressed that NIS’s situation in recent months has been directly shaped by U.S. sanctions policy targeting Russia’s energy sector. These conditions led to disruptions in crude oil supplies and a temporary halt in operations at the Pančevo refinery, with serious consequences for both the Serbian market and the region’s energy security.
Once the required corporate approvals are in place, MOL’s acquisition of the majority stake is expected to stabilize NIS’s operations and strengthen its position on the regional fuel market. As the IEŚ analyst noted, the transaction highlights how closely corporate decisions in the energy sector in Central Europe and the Balkans are now tied to geopolitics and sanctions regimes.
Serbian Refinery Under U.S. Pressure. IEŚ Expert’s Commentary for TVP World