First gas station in BiH closed due to US sanctions on NIS

(Patria) - US sanctions on Russian oil companies operating in Serbia and BiH have led to the closure of a Gazprom gas station in Veljaci, in the Ljubuški area.

This station, located just two kilometers from the border with Croatia and the Orah-Orahovlje border crossing, has been a favorite spot for many from Vrgorac to refuel in recent years, as it was cheaper, as well as for foreign tourists on their way to Međugorje and the Herzegovinian oases of Kravica and Koćuša, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

The station was privately owned for some time, but after the strong entry of Russian-Serbian capital into BiH, it ended up in Gazprom's portfolio.

In recent weeks, according to the Split portal, everything indicated that it would close its doors. Namely, customers who came to refuel their cars could only pay in cash, and the shelves with sweets and drinks were getting emptier every day.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Naftna industrija Srbije (NIS) operates through its sister companies NIS Petrol Banjaluka and G-Petrol Sarajevo, with 42 gas stations and around 500 employees.

Since 2008, the owner of NIS has been the Russian energy giant Gazprom Neft, which holds 56.15% of the shares, while the rest belongs to the Republic of Serbia and smaller shareholders.