Company "OMV" alone in race for NIS or together with Greek "Hellenic Petroleum"

- Our company is interested in two refineries in Serbia, but we are thinking about buying them independently from Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) as a whole. Therefore, we are interested in the privatization of the entire oil company, which is in accordance with the opinion of the privatization councilor for NIS - said Gerhard Rojs, the Deputy General Manager of Austrian oil company "OMV".

He pointed out that, if they entered the market of Serbia, they would be interested in integration of the refineries with the retail network and logistics. He also added that "OMV", as the owner of 45 gas stations, covered 10% of the market of Serbia and that the aim of the company was that that share be raised to 20%.

Rojs estimated the speculations about partnership with "Petrom" and joint participation in the tender as irrelevant, because the Austrians were majority owners of the Romanian company, but he announced possibility of the consortium with Greek "Hellenic Petroleum".

- I have to emphasize that there is no firm decision, but only the intention for making of consortium with "Hellenic". There is also an option that we enter the race for NIS by ourselves and, objectivelly, we can easily cope with that in financial terms. The analysis of our balance speaks in the favor of that statement - Rojs explains.

He claims that "OMV" has much to offer to NIS as far as oil refining is concerned. According to this words, NIS has quality and expert personnel, while "OMV" has neccessary knowledge, so that they can make nice profit together.