Romania imported, in the first nine months of 2024, a quantity of usable natural gas of 1.361 million tons of oil equivalent (toe), 10.9% lower (-166,300 toe) compared to the same period last year, according to data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The domestic production of natural gas totaled, in the mentioned period, 5.635 million toe, being 0.8% above that of the period January-September 2023 (+42,800 toe), according to Agerpres.

According to the estimates of the National Commission for Strategy and Forecast, the production of natural gas would increase, between 2024 and 2027, with an average annual rate of 1.7%, after an advance of 1.4% recorded in 2023.

Thus, in the last Forecast of the energy balance, for 2024 a production of 7.675 million tons of oil equivalent is forecast, increasing by 0.6%, for 2025 of 7.79 million toe (plus 1.5%), for 2026 of 7.907 million toe (plus 1.5%) and for 2027 of 8.176 million toe (plus 3.4%).

Regarding imports, for 2024 an increase of over 10% in the import of natural gas is forecast, after which a reduction trend is expected, with a more pronounced rhythm in the horizon of 2027 (-6%), in consistent with the advance of production through the entry into operation of new capacities, but also taking into account a maintenance of transit to foreign markets.

CNSP estimates for 2024 imports of 2.392 million tep (plus 11.1%), for 2025 of 2.211 million tep (minus 7.6%), for 2026 of 2.150 million tep (minus 2.7%) and for 2027 of 2.022 million tep (minus 6%).