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Deal to sell stake in Serbia's NIS to Hungary's MOL would benefit Russia, Lavrov says - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Deal to sell stake in Serbia's NIS to Hungary's MOL would benefit Russia, Lavrov says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on January 20, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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oil and gas investment

Hungary's MOL Stake Acquisition in Serbia's NIS Seen as Advantageous for Russia

Impact of MOL's Acquisition on Russia

MOSCOW, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that a deal for Hungary's MOL to acquire a stake in Serbian oil refiner NIS would be beneficial for Russia.

Details of the Stake Sale

Russia's Gazprom Neft has reached a provisional agreement to sell its majority stake in NIS to MOL, Serbia's Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Monday.

Stakeholder Breakdown

Russia's Gazprom holds an 11.3% stake in NIS, while its sanctioned oil unit Gazprom Neft owns 44.9%. The Serbian government has 29.9%, with the remainder held by small shareholders and employees.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Key Takeaways

  • MOL's acquisition of NIS stake is beneficial for Russia.
  • Gazprom Neft to sell its majority stake in NIS to MOL.
  • Serbia's Energy Minister confirms the provisional agreement.
  • Stakeholder breakdown includes Gazprom and the Serbian government.
  • Lavrov's comments highlight geopolitical implications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gazprom Neft?
Gazprom Neft is a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom, primarily involved in the extraction and production of oil and gas.
What is MOL?
MOL is a Hungarian multinational oil and gas company, engaged in the exploration, production, and distribution of oil and gas products.
What is a stake in a company?
A stake in a company refers to the ownership interest that an individual or entity holds in that company, usually represented by shares.
What is an oil refiner?
An oil refiner is a company or facility that processes crude oil into usable products such as gasoline, diesel, and other petrochemicals.

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