Before we talk about regional cooperation in terms of security of supply or even gas hubs, “it’s important to get our own house in order”, said Benedikt Klauser, DG Energy (European Commission) at 2017 Energy Strategy Summit, in Bucharest, last week. “I think we really need a full commitment of the Romanian authorities to make this things happen”, emphasized the European Commission representative.

Here it is Mr. Benedikt Klauser’s full intervention on this issue.

I fully agree with what my co-panelists said said in terms of the potential of Romania, in terms of its geopolitical role in the region. I also agree with the usefulness of regional cooperation, but I want to emphasize that before we talk about regional cooperation in terms of security of supply or even gas hubs, it’s important to get our own house in order. Many countries in the region, including Romania, still have a considerable gap to bridge in terms of correctly implementing and living the European Market rules. I think we really need a full commitment of the Romanian authorities to make this things happen.

We had a workshop on the implementation of network codes last week and some of the concerns that we expressed, were related with the current state and the functioning of Romanian gas market. We are operating without a true entry-exit system. We still have a city gate deliveries of gas and we are looking at a trading base on an analogue matching of bids and offers. These are certainly areas where we have huge room for further improvements.

When implementing forms in this areas and putting European markets rules into practice, we have to be very careful, not to make the mistake of taking one step forward and two steps back. I am thinking, for example, at the proposed rule to oblige producers in Romania to market all of their production through one trading place. I think these rules will have a very detrimental effect on market functioning and would effectively deter and impede exports. And if we think about the interconnectivity projects that were mentioned by my co-panelists, it seems hard to imagine that producers in Romania will be willing to finance pipeline interconnections with other member states, if they can’t even use them.

____________
Energy Strategy Summit 2017 was organized by Wing Media Energy Consulting, through energynomics.ro, in partnership with reputed industry organizations such as ACUE, AFEER, AIIR-FV, EFdeN, RBSTA, ROPEPCA, RPIA and EPG, with the support of BCR, BMW Auto Cobălcescu, Casa de traduceri, CEC Bank, CIS GAZ, Conpet, Enel, E.ON, Hidroelectrica, KMG International, Lukoil, Nuclearelectrica, Phoenix Contact, Romgaz, RWEA, Schneider Electric România, SAMEDAY, Stratum Enclosures, Transelectrica.