Romania will become independent from an energy point of view starting in 2026, said the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, during the Romanian International Gas Conference 2022.
“The gas war started last year, a hybrid war, without any justification… It creates a problem for all of us today that we have to keep under control,” said the minister.
“We will do everything we can to get through this period well. Romania has natural gas reserves…and will continue to exploit natural gas. The first gas exploitation in the Black Sea began this year – an estimated output of 1 billion cubic meters, by BSOG. I am convinced that we will soon have an announcement from the two major producers, Romgaz and Petrom, regarding the extraction of gas from the Neptun Deep perimeter,” he added.
“With the start of exploitation there – we estimate the end of 2026 – Romania will become independent from an energy point of view,” he also said.
Popescu explained that the moment of gas exploitation from Neptun Deep will coincide with the launch of CE Oltenia’s gas power plant projects – amounting to 1,200 MW, in 2026.
“We will become a regional security exporter. Of course, there is still a long way to go until 2026 and we must also think in the short term… we must together find solutions for the natural gas supply of the region, of Romania, of the neighboring countries… because European solidarity must be manifested now even more, in the face of Russian blackmail”, Popescu also said.
