Serbian Oil Refinery NIS Restarts Operations Following US Sanctions Reprieve
Serbia's oil refinery has resumed operations after receiving a U.S. sanctions waiver. Diesel production is expected to return to the market by January 27, 2026.
Insights:
Serbia's Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic dubravka djedovic handanovicannounced on Sunday, January 18, 2026, that NIS a.d. Novi Sad has successfully restarted operations at its refining facility. The return to activity follows a shutdown that lasted nearly two months and comes as the company secures a necessary reprieve from international restrictions. This restart is a critical operational milestone for the energy sector in Serbia 
RSas it seeks to stabilize its domestic supply.
RSas it seeks to stabilize its domestic supply.The resumption of activity was made possible after the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the United States 
USgranted a sanctions reprieve to the company until January 23, 2026. This temporary waiver allows for the immediate resumption of Crude Oil WTI imports through the JANAF Pipeline in Croatia 
HR, which serves as the primary artery for the facility's raw materials. Following this initial startup phase, the first batches of diesel from the restarted refinery are scheduled to reach the market by January 27, 2026.
USgranted a sanctions reprieve to the company until January 23, 2026. This temporary waiver allows for the immediate resumption of Crude Oil WTI imports through the JANAF Pipeline in Croatia HR, which serves as the primary artery for the facility's raw materials. Following this initial startup phase, the first batches of diesel from the restarted refinery are scheduled to reach the market by January 27, 2026.
