MOL, Hungary's biggest oil and gas company, made an undisclosed bid for a 79.5% stake in Serbia's second-largest fuel retailer, Beopetrol, according to a press release issued by MOL.

The stake was put up for sale by Serbia's government. Beopetrol's 179 filling stations would increase MOL's network by 22%.

MOL is vying to become the largest oil company in the region and already owns a stake in Croatia's INA and controls Slovakia's Slovnaft. The statement made no reference to any collaboration over the bid. In May MOL had announced that it was interested in the stake in Beopetrol in conjunction with Slovenian concern Petrol.

(IntelliNews 11.viii.03)