Crude oil deliveries to Serbia’s Pančevo refinery have restarted, restoring a vital supply route through the JANAF pipeline system after nearly three months of interruption. Transport had been halted on 9 October due to the full enforcement of US sanctions, but a temporary license granted to JANAF has enabled operations to resume.
Energy and Mining Minister Dubravka Đedović confirmed that approximately 85,000 tons of crude are scheduled to arrive via JANAF this week, allowing the refinery to restart operations by mid-January. Fuel production, including diesel, is expected to resume shortly afterward, with initial deliveries reaching the domestic market by late January. Further shipments of 35,000–45,000 tons are planned for the following week, bolstering supply stability.
Combined with around 120,000 tons of domestically sourced crude, the new imports should sustain refinery operations well beyond 23 January. The Minister highlighted that these developments follow an exceptionally challenging period, during which Serbia maintained fuel supply despite significant logistical and regulatory obstacles.
In parallel, the Government is exploring options to increase its stake in NIS, signaling efforts to strengthen national control over strategic energy assets amid ongoing geopolitical and sanctions-related pressures.