Serbia explores alternatives amid struggle for oil import amid EU sanctions on Russia

Nearly two days after European Union (EU) imposed a ban on Russian oil, Serbian multinational oil and gas company, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), said that it could t receive crude oil through Jadranski naftovod (JANAF) pipeline. While answering a query, Ministry of Mining and Energy said Serbia is t only European country that has been affected by new pack of EU sanctions, but several countries are facing similar challenges. However, ministry said that it is making every effort to ensure a secure supply.

" new pack of sanctions prohibits supply of Russian crude oil via any port, by sea, and NIS is supplied with crude oil that is delivered by tankers to port of Omisalj (in Croatia). This means that re is possibility to deliver more Russian crude oil to Pancevo Refinery," Rs.n1info quoted ministry as saying.

"NIS could import all or types of crude oil except Russian, as it had already imported oil from Iraq and some or countries in previous period," it added.

EU sanctions on Russian energy

tably, EU imposed fresh sanctions on Russian energy and country's largest bank, Sberbank, as retaliation for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"We have just adopted our 6th pack of tough sanctions against Russia and will keep pressure on. Europe will support Ukraine as long as it takes, with all financial, technical and humanitarian aid possible. We will help m rebuild, reform and modernise," President of EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said following EU's historic decision. Earlier in April, it imposed similar sanctions on Russian coal, worth 4 billion euros ($4.39 billion) per year.

Russia-Ukraine war

It is pertinent to mention here that Russia launched a full-fledged war against Ukraine nearly two days after Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognising independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, on February 24. Since n, it has been bombarding several cities in Ukraine, resulting in killing of thousands of civilians and loss of infrastructure. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Moscow's upper parliament house speaker said Russia is ready to hold negotiations with Kyiv to restore peace in region. She said that Putin administration is open to talks with Ukraine and signing agreements that would lead to peace. She said that Russian government is ready to solve issue diplomatically and added a will for this is needed on both sides. However, she claimed that Zelenskyy administration has shown interest in resolving issue. 

Im: AP/Unsplash