Romania imported in the first six months of 2016, the amount of usable natural gas of 222,400 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe), with 231.4% (155.3 thousand toe) higher than those imported in the same period of 2015, according to centralized data the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

Domestic production of natural gas totaled in the first half of 2016 over 3.81 million toe, by 493,600 toe (11.5%) under that in the period from January to June 2015.

The draft Energy Strategy of Romania 2015 – 2035, published on the ministry website reveals that Romania has the largest reserves of natural gas in Central and Eastern Europe, with proved reserves of approximately 1,600 TWh, quotes Agerpres.

”At an average annual output in Romania (11 billion cubic meters of natural gas) and in terms of annual decline of 5% of reserves of reliable natural gas, in conjunction with a replacement rate of natural gas reserves of 80%, the current natural gas reserves could run out in a period of 14 years”, according to Romania’s Energy Strategy.