The US Department of Treasury said on Friday it has imposed sanctions against Serbian oil and gas company NIS as part of a wider set of measures targeting Russia's energy sector.
NIS, Serbia's sole refiner, has been designated for being controlled by Russian oil major Gazprom Neft, the Treasury said in a press release.
Along with Gazprom Neft and its subsidiaries, the Treasury imposed sanctions on Surgutneftegas, another Russian oil firm, and its units, as well as on 183 vessels, mostly oil tankers that are part of Russia's shadow fleet, among others.
The UK is also sanctioning Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, the Treasury added.
In 2008, Gazprom Neft acquired a majority stake in NIS and later raised the ownership to 56.15%. In 2022, Gazprom Neft transferred a 6.15% stake in NIS to its parent Gazprom. The Serbian government owns some 30% of NIS, while the remainder is held by minority shareholders.
Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic said last month the US will target NIS in its new sanctions package against Russia. "We will have to see if there is a possibility to reduce Russian ownership below 50% and to talk with Russian partners about it," Vucic said at the time.
Elsewhere in the region, NIS is present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Romania.
On Friday, NIS' shares fell by 0.52%, to close at 761 dinars ($6.66/ 6.50 euro).
(SeeNews, January 3, 2025)
