Depomureș, the operator of the Târgu-Mureș underground natural gas storage depot, a company owned by the ENGIE S.A. Group through ENGIE Group Participations (59%) and S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. (40%), announces the launch, at the beginning of this week, of the execution works for the construction of a compression station to serve the depot both for the injection of gas into the depot and for its extraction for delivery to the National Transmission System (NTS), an investment which is part of the Project of Common Interest 6.20.4 Depomures Depot in Romania.

The main objectives of the investment are:

• Increasing the storage capacity of the natural gas storage by 33%, from 300 million cubic metres to 400 million cubic metres (+100 million cubic metres, equivalent to about 1 TWh), thus contributing to strengthening the security of natural gas supply in winter and during peak periods when it is necessary to activate this source to cover the consumption demand;
• Increasing the flexibility of the repository by increasing the daily injection/extraction throughput by 75%, from approx. 2 mil. m3 to 3.5 mil.m3 (+1.5 mil. m3 /day, equivalent to approx. 15.8 GWh), thus contributing to the increased flexibility of the overall energy system;
• Increasing the integration of an efficient and competitive internal market by reducing and preventing infrastructure bottlenecks related to gas supply, thereby contributing to strengthening the resilience of the national energy infrastructure.

The total investment will be supported from own and attracted sources, including a grant of 12.77 million euros accessed through the CEF Energy Programme (Connecting Europe Facility). The project is planned to be finalised during 2026.

“In the current context, with increased energy challenges in Europe, especially after the recent geopolitical conflicts, Romania plays an important role in diversifying supply, being able to offer a regional alternative to Russian gas and contributing to the stability of supply in the country and in the region,” said Dan Pantilie, Chairman of the Board of Depomures.The development of energy infrastructure, including the expansion of natural gas storage capacity, is vital in this respect, and Depomures remains an important pillar in ensuring the energy security of Romania and the region. This strategic project will enable us to respond promptly and efficiently to market requirements, while contributing to local and regional energy security,” said Dan Pantilie, Chairman of the Depomures Board of Directors.

Following the contribution of the main shareholders to the depot development project, both ENGIE Group Participations SA and SNGN Romgaz SA have increased their stakes in Depomures to 59.59% and 40.40% respectively.

Depomures is the second largest underground natural gas storage operator in Romania and operates the depot located in Târgu-Mureș, which currently has a storage capacity of 300 million m3.