MOL, the Hungarian company, could soon sign a first deal to purchase a stake in Serbian NIS
Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian foreign minister, said that the Hungarian oil company MOL will sign the first important deal in its negotiations to purchase a majority stake of the Serbian oil company NIS owned by Russia in the next few days.
After meeting with the Serbian energy minister in Belgrade, Szijjarto gave a briefing saying that the United States would be notified once the first deal between MOL Neft and Gazprom is signed.
This submission is crucial as the U.S. has set a deadline for late March, after it imposed
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NIS was targeted in October as part of wider?measures that target Russia's energy industry over Moscow's conflict in Ukraine.
NIS had until the end of?March to discuss the sale of stakes in Gazprom, and its oil division, Gazprom neft.
Szijjarto stated that Budapest supports MOL's discussions to buy the stakes in NIS and Serbia's only Pancevo refinery will be of "strategic significance" for MOL, and won't be closed down.
NIS STAKE WILL BOOST ENERGY SECURITY IN REGION
Szijjarto stated that the first major agreement between MOL & Gazprom Neft, as part of the talks, could be signed. He added that MOL's acquisition?of a majority stake in NIS will increase Central Europe's security of energy.
MOL refused to comment on Thursday about?details regarding the potential acquisition by NIS.
Gazprom owns 11.3% of NIS, while Gazprom Neft holds 44.9%. The Serbian Government owns a 29.9% stake.
The goal is to conclude these talks before the end of this week, and sign a binding contract for the transfer ownership of all shares of the Russian owners to the new owner," said Dubravka Handanovic, Serbian Energy Minister.
According to Tamas Pelletser, regional energy analyst at Erste, there are questions about the deal and what the U.S. will accept.
He said that the road to a finalized deal would still be bumpy. (Reporting and editing by Bernadettebaum, Anita Komuves and Krisztina than)
(source: Reuters)
