Serbia to replace Russian oil with domestic, Iraqi, Iranian oil

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Mining and Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic has stated that the Serbian government intends to replace Russian oil with domestic oil, as well as oil from Iraq and Iran.

Serbia will be unable to import Russian oil due to sanctions from November 1, 2022, she told Tanjug agency on September 12.

"We will not import Russian oil from November 1, 2022, we will primarily have oil from Kirkuk (Iraq), we will also have our own oil because Petroleum Refining Company (NIS) has about 20 per cent of Serbian oil, and the rest will be Iranian or some other oil," Mihajlovic noted.

The deputy prime minister added that Serbia imported 25 per cent of oil from Russia, and received 20 more per cent from its own production, the rest needs were covered by supplies from Kirkuk in 2021.

She also noted that after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, Serbia imported more Russian oil because crude oil was much cheaper.

"I don't see any problems, the work is underway, contracts are being signed, so, in any case, we will use non-Russian oil, as envisaged by the sixth package," she said.

Serbia will be unable to receive Russian oil from EU sanctions from November 1, 2022.

Oil from Russia is supplied to Serbia by tankers via the Adriatic Sea to Croatia, after which it is pumped through the JANAF pipeline.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has reiterated that he will not impose sanctions against Russia.