Kravchenko said that NIS plans to put
into operation 36 gas stations in BiH in 2013 as part of a programme for
expansion of its retail network, in which some 90 million euros will be
invested by the end of the year.
”We will continue with oil and natural
gas exploration in Republika Srpska,” Kravchenko said, noting that 10 million
euros was invested in the past period for the purpose and that more money is
planned for this year.
Kravchenko concluded that this company
is expanding and becoming one of the major investors in the Balkans in order to
contribute to the progress of the countries in the region.
The Republika Srpska Minister of
Energy and Mining, Zeljko Kovacevic, who welcomed those attending the opening
ceremony on behalf of President Milorad Dodik and the Republika Srpska Cabinet,
said that it is evident that NIS has in the past few years acted as one of the
most important investors in Srpska.
“This is also proved by the opening of
this modern gas station, which will certainly provide residents and businesses
in Srpska with high-quality services in keeping with European standards,”
Kovacevic said.
Kovacevic said that the Republika
Srpska Cabinet and the relevant Ministry will continue providing support and
being a reliable partner to this and all other investors, and concluded that
only new investments can enable Srpska’s economic development and a better life
for its citizens.
The ceremony was attended by the
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to BiH, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, the
president of the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce, Borko Djuric,
businessmen, public figures and press representatives.
The director of the NIS daughter
company in BiH, Alexei Shabashov, put into operation the gas station by filling
up an ambulance with gas.
NIS has already bought a network of 28
gas stations in BiH from the Austrian OMV Company, and it has gas stations in
Romania and Bulgaria. NIS plans to have at least 100 gas stations in Bulgaria,
Romania and BiH by the end of the year.
NIS has the largest network of gas
stations in Serbia, 332 stations, where it has opened the first gas station
under the Gasprom premium brand name.
In addition to gas stations, NIS has a
warehouse for oil derivatives in Bulgaria, and expects the gas stations
purchased last year to start operating this year in Romania. It also plans this
year to build a warehouse for its needs in Timisoara in Romania.
The expansion of gas stations will
enable NIS to sell more fuel of Euro 5 quality from the Pancevo Oil Refinery,
whose modernisation was completed last year.
When it comes to exploration and
production, the company started to expand in the region – in Romania, Hungary
and BiH – and according to announcements from management, initial results in
increasing production from these concessions are expected this and next year.
The majority owner of NIS is the
Russian Gasprom Company, which has 56% of the share. The Serbian Government has
30% and the rest belongs to citizens, former employees and other minority
shareholders.
(Agency/Frontal)
