Romania, the largest EU gas producer
Romania ranks first in the European Union in terms of gas production.
Ştefan Stoica, 29.10.2024, 13:50
Romania ranks first in the European Union in terms of gas production.
Romania has become the largest gas producer in the European Union, due to the production of 2.3 billion cubic meters of gas obtained in the second quarter, ahead of the Netherlands, which recorded an output of 2.2 billion cubic meters. According to the Romanian Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja, compared to last year, the Romanian gas production increased by 1%. He emphasized that this is thanks to Romgaz, the company in the portfolio of the Energy Ministry, which had a 5% higher six-month gas production compared to the same period last year. The minister also said that, in the same period, Romanians benefited from the fourth cheapest gas price, according to Eurostat data.
Starting 2027, due to the deep-sea gas from the Black Sea, we will effectively double our gas production, have an even better price for gas, we will attract even more investments in the economy and we will support the entire region to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, Burduja also said.
George-Sergiu Niculescu, the president of the National Regulatory Authority in the field of Energy, gave additional details on Radio Romania: “First of all, this could not have happened without a sustained effort on the investment side, by the companies that produce natural gas in Romania, because we all know that natural gas deposits register a natural decline in production every year; as a deposit is exploited for a longer period of time, it empties and the natural gas remaining in the deposit is harder to bring to the surface. However, the Romanian state-owned company Romgaz, made a commitment and, through an effort supported by investments, managed to initially maintain the production of natural gas, that is to practically reduce the natural decline through investments, and succeeded, also through investments, to increase the production of natural gas. We must not forget that since June 2022 we have had an additional billion cubic meters entering the national transport system, through the investment of the Black Sea Oil&Gas company, which extracts gas from the Black Sea. What does this mean? It means that Romania holds the position of regional leader, and, most importantly, that it is the largest producer of natural gas at EU level”.
This status allows Romania’s energy policies to influence the region and, thus, the needs of the Romanian economy and of domestic consumers in Romania can be better answered, Niculescu pointed out. On the other hand, the authorities gave assurances that gas and electricity prices will not be higher this winter, compared to last winter. We remind you that, until March 31 next year, a compensation scheme is in force, capping the prices for domestic consumers.
