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ADDISON, Texas, July 27, 2026 – Authentix, a global leader in government authentication programs, today announced that it has been selected as exclusive technology provider for covert fuel marking technology for the Government of Montenegro. This new five-year contract was executed on July 24, 2026, between the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro and an international consortium of companies led by Labex, a Montenegro, Podgorica-based company specialized in testing of fuels and other petroleum products. Authentix’s role is to provide the covert marking solutions, training, analysis devices, and its cloud-based software system, AXIS® allowing government officials to plan inspection sampling routes, track fuel deliveries, and enforce penalties against non-compliant retailers who attempt to adulterate or bypass the legitimate, marked fuel supply.
The establishment of the fuel marking program was announced through Amendments to the Energy Law adopted by the Montenegro Parliament in March 2025. A public tender was issued in September 2025 to qualify and select a solution provider. After multiple bids were submitted and the evaluation completed, the Government of Montenegro awarded the contract to the Labex-led consortium on June 4, 2026. The program is designed to combat the grey economy and illicit fuel trade, prevent the misuse and adulteration of petroleum products, protect consumers from low-quality fuel, promote fair market competition, strengthen regulatory oversight, and improve the collection of public revenues.
Kevin McKenna, president and CEO of Authentix commented, “this will be the third national program in Eastern Europe where Authentix has been selected as the exclusive technology provider for covert fuel marking technology, devices, and software to combat illicit fuel trade. We are pleased these national governments and our operating partners in the region chose the Authentix fuel marking technology to be deployed in these programs. We look forward to all the benefits the government and citizens will realize from this newly enacted initiative to protect the Montenegro national fuel supply from smuggling, fraud, and diversion.”
Authentix has a proven track record of delivering successful fuel integrity programs throughout the region. Together with its consortium partners SGS and Nanoinspekt, d.o.o., Authentix has served as the exclusive provider of fuel marking technology for the Republic of Serbia since 2013. Since its implementation, the Serbian government has reported consistent growth in fuel tax revenues and a substantial reduction in illicit fuel trade.
Elsewhere in the region, on 21 July 2026, Authentix signed a five-year agreement to be the exclusive provider of fuel marking technology for the newly adopted fuel integrity initiative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This program is expected to be fully implemented before year end 2026.
With dozens of fuel marking contracts around the world, including North America, Central America, South America, Africa, and Europe, more governments and commercial companies rely on Authentix’s technology to protect their fuel supply chains making Authentix the global leader in the covert fuel supply market. For nearly 30 years, Authentix has provided covert fuel marking technologies protecting over 3 trillion Liters of fuel across six continents supporting efforts to reduce fraud, deter smuggling, and strengthen market integrity.
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