Gas imports increased by almost 20% in the first half

Romania imported, in the first six months of 2024, a quantity of usable natural gas of 834,800 tons of oil equivalent (toe), 19.9% ​​higher (+138,800 toe) compared to the same period last year, according to the data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The domestic production of natural gas totaled, in the mentioned period, 3.8 million toe, being 1.3% above that of the first semester of 2023 (+48,600 toe), according to Agerpres.

According to the estimates of the National Commission for Strategy and Forecast, the production of natural gas should increase, in the period 2024-2027, 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%).

As far as imports are concerned, for 2024 an increase of over 10% in the import of natural gas is forecast, after which a tendency to decrease is expected, with a more pronounced rhythm in the horizon of 2027 (-6%), in concordance 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.