Russia's Gazprom Neft says it's talking only to Hungary's MOL over sale of stake in Serbia's NIS

MOL Magyar Olaj es Gazipari Nyrt

05/06/2026 10:00

    ST PETERSBURG, June 5 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom Neft SIBN.MM is talking exclusively with Hungary's MOL MOLB.BU about a potential sale of its stake in  NIS NIIS.BEL, which operates Serbia's only oil refinery,  Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov said on Friday.
A recently formed Serbian company, Senator, said last month it had offered 2 billion euros to Gazprom Neft and Gazprom for their combined 56.2% stake in NIS.
NIS is subject to U.S. sanctions imposed in October over its Russian ownership, part of broader measures targeting Moscow's energy sector following its invasion of Ukraine. Washington has pushed for the divestment of the Russian stake.    
On Wednesday, MOL, Hungary's largest oil and gas company, asked the U.S. government for a one-month extension to a June 6 deadline to complete talks to acquire the Russian stake in NIS.
Gazprom Neft owns 44.9%, Gazprom holds 11.3% and the Serbian government has 29.9%, with the remainder held by small shareholders and employees.



 (Reporting by Olesya Astakhova in St Petersburg, additional reporting by Oksana Kobzeva in Moscow; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
 ((maxim.rodionov@thomsonreuters.com;))