(ANSA) - BELGRADO, JUL 29 - The Serbian oil company Nis announced Tuesday that it had applied to OFAC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, for a new license to operate freely after July 31, when its current license expires. This was reported by the independent newspaper N1. Since last October, Nis has been subject to U.S. sanctions due to the controlling stake held by Russian giants Gazprom and Gazpromneft; Nis has been surviving on one extension (license) after another since last January, awaiting the finalization of an agreement between the Russians and the Hungarian company Mol, which has undertaken to acquire its 56% stake. But there is still no sign of an agreement, and many doubt that the Russians are truly interested in selling their Serbian shares. Nis states that the company's ability to operate freely, the operation of the country's only refinery in Pančevo, and regular fuel supplies depend on this agreement currently being negotiated, which—in light of U.S. sanctions—is therefore crucial for maintaining Serbia's energy stability. (ANSA).