OREANDA-NEWS. December 29, 2012. NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije), a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, opened its first petrol station under the GAZPROM brand in Belgrade. A large-scale project to launch a new premium retail chain of GAZPROM gas stations will in the future be extended to other countries in the Balkans.

The retail development under the new brand is planned in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the stations in Bulgaria and Romania opening shortly. By the end of 2013, the GAZPROM network will consist of approximately 100 petrol stations. NIS will manage GAZPROM petrol stations in the Balkans.

GAZPROM petrol stations will supply premium fuel to the Balkan market, which conforms to Euro-5 emission standards. In addition, high-quality lubricants, and other related products will be sold at the petrol stations. The format of the petrol stations includes shops, restaurants, and cafes. Customers will also be able to use other services, such as wireless Internet access.

"The development of new retail network of petrol stations in the Balkan market will capitalise the benefits of the GAZPROM brand, which is well-known in Europe. We meet consumer demands by offering high-quality fuel produced in our plants that conforms to European standards. I am confident that the combination of these factors and a brand that is easily recognisable will make GAZPROM petrol stations one of the leading retail networks in the Balkans,” said Alexey Miller, the Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee

NIS is one of the largest vertically integrated oil and gas companies in southeastern Europe, engaged in the exploration, production, and refining of oil and gas, as well as in the marketing of petroleum products. Major shareholders are Gazprom Neft (56.5%) and the Government of the Republic of Serbia. The Company owns two oil refineries with total refining capacity of 7.3 million tons per year in Pancevo and Novi Sad, a network of 350 gas stations under the NIS Petrol brand, and oil depots. NIS operates in several European countries, including Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia, and participates in mining projects in Angola.