Romania could become a “Blue Hydrogen Valley” in the European Union, as it has gas resources, carbon storage capacity and a diverse industry that can use this resource, said on Tuesday Ionut Ciubotaru, Vice President for Business Development, OMV Petrom, during the conference “Project Hydrogen – the first steps in Romania”, organised by Energynomics.

“We are currently the second largest gas producer in the EU after the Netherlands and we have the great opportunity to become the largest natural gas producer in the European Union, if we access the gas resources of the Black Sea, with all the benefits that this investment has in terms of jobs, state budget revenues and Romania’s independence from imports. If we do not access these resources, Price Waterhouse Coopers has forecast that 50% of gas consumption will be imported in 2030,” said Ciubotaru, according to Agerpres.

In addition, Romania can store carbon dioxide in empty oil and gas deposits.

“Obviously, tests need to be done and legislation needs to be adjusted, but there is a possibility, we need to consider it and keep in mind that we can become one of the largest carbon dioxide stockers in the EU,” OMV Petrom official continued.

At the same time, our country has a diverse industry where hydrogen can be used.

“Romania has a very good industrial diversity, which leads us to the idea that we will probably have local hydrogen consumers in the future. I use all these three arguments to bring to your attention a concept that we are trying to promote, that that Romania can become a ‘Valley of Blue Hydrogen’ in the EU,” Ciubotaru added.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION OF IONUȚ CIUBOTARU

Also Ioan Iordache, executive director of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said hydrogen could be stored over the long-term in salt mines.

“It’s about storing hydrogen in underground salt caverns. We’re talking about long-term storage, in seasons, in large quantities. In Romania we have this potential and we’re among the first to study it and we put it on paper,” Iordache said, at the same event.

The conference “Project Hydrogen – the first steps in Romania” was organised by Energynomics., with the support of our partners: Electroservice RB, Horváth, Linde Gas, Solar Turbines.