The Pancevo oil refinery has begun preparations for a temporary shutdown after US Treasury sanctions imposed on NIS disrupted crude oil deliveries, the company announced. Refinery operations have entered an initial phase in which processing units are being placed into hot circulation, a controlled mode that keeps equipment operational without full production.
NIS said the procedure is being carried out in accordance with Serbian regulations, internal company protocols, and stringent environmental, safety, and occupational-health standards. While in hot circulation, systems will be maintained in a condition that allows the refinery to resume production quickly once crude oil supplies are restored.
Despite the disruption, the company stressed that fuel deliveries to the domestic market remain uninterrupted, supported by previously secured inventories. NIS expressed hope that normal operations at the Pancevo refinery will resume as soon as possible, emphasizing the facility’s critical importance not only for Serbia’s energy security but also for neighboring markets. Since 2009, more than 900 million euros has been invested in the refinery, making it one of the most modern in the region.
NIS also noted that the refinery’s temporary halt will affect HIP Petrohemija, which relies on Pancevo’s output and is preparing for its own operational pause in the coming period.
