Mol receives US OFAC extension for Serbian NIS oil acquisition

Hungarian oil company Mol announced that the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has granted a new authorization allowing the firm to continue negotiations with Serbia’s Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) until 16 June 2026. The extension follows a previous deadline that expired on 22 May, giving Mol an additional ten days to finalize the transaction documentation.

The deal would enable Mol to purchase a 56.15% stake in NIS—currently owned mainly by Gazprom‑related shareholders—potentially giving the Hungarian group decisive influence over oil refining and fuel distribution from Slovakia to the Adriatic region. Analysts estimate the transaction value at €1‑2 billion, making it a landmark oil deal for Hungary and a significant reshaping of the Central and Southeast European energy market.