Romania is in the best position in terms of the security of gas supply, Ion Sterian said at a conference.

“Through the investments from Depogaz, supported by Romgaz, the storage capacity increased by 100 million cubic meters compared to last year, reaching 3.17 billion. Today we have 3.65 billion cubic meters in storage, corresponding to a percentage of 96.23%, 1.22% higher than the European average. I can say that we have 477 million more cubic meters of gas stored today compared to the same date last year. In addition, storage extraction capacity has been increased – and anyone who knows me knows that I have complained for several years that we do not have more storage extraction capacity.

Unfortunately, a large part of Romania’s gas consumption today goes to domestic activity. For example, today, with a consumption of 14.2 million cubic meters of gas, more than 80-90% means domestic consumption.

“In the western states, and I give you the example of Spain, which has a transport system similar to Romania, the ratio is 70% consumption for industry, 30% for the population. That should give us food for thought in the future. A country without production is a country without a future,” stated Ion Sterian, quoted by Financialintelligence.

Sterian referred also to the resumption of activity in Azomureș: “We expect the largest producer of chemical fertilizers – Azomureș – to start production from October 1, as he notified us – but also other companies in the country”.

According to Sterian, Romania’s position is very good at the moment: “On one hand, this is due to the investments made by Transgaz, strategic investments included in Transgaz’s ten-year development program. We have invested enormously in infrastructure, in interconnections, and thanks to these investments we have been able to be where we are now. Regarding the storage stocks, we had an exceptional collaboration with the Government, both myself and the Romanian gas producers and suppliers, a collaboration that we still have today, in the future.

“Recently, the Government approved the gas and electricity supply plan for next winter, which is much improved. And I can tell you that no matter what happens, we will make it through the winter, even if it is frosty. We have the stocks insured, which we have never had before, at this date.”