Romania might not need to import gas this winter, decision makers in Bucharest have announced.
The gas level at Romania’s storage facilities presently stands at 100.6%, which means that our gas reservoirs are full to the brim, Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, has recently announced in Bucharest
With the quantities to be produced in the following months and because this winter is going to be warmer like in recent years, Romanians could make it to spring without needing to import more gas. In fact, Romania managed to fill its gas reservoirs although its gas imports were 16% lower in the first eight months of the year as compared to the similar period in 2022.
According to Burduja, several scenarios are being considered for the cold season, including one in which Romania can support the neighboring, ex-soviet Republic of Moldova, or Ukraine, invaded by the Russian troops. According to the political analysts in Chișinău, in spite of an energy blackmail from Russia, the pro-Western government in the Republic of Moldova has already managed, with help from Romania, to avoid a deep social and economic crisis. Bucharest supplied Chisinau with electricity, while the latter managed to buy enough gas on the international market, which it transported through the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău pipeline, built with Romanian and EU logistical and financial support. In a worst-case scenario in which this winter were a harsh one and the Republic of Moldova needed support, Minister Burduja has mentioned the alternative of importing gas from Azerbaijan or buying liquefied gas.
On the other hand the effects of the Middle East conflict are already visible on gas and oil markets around the world and the Ministry of Energy intends to manage this situation through a series of mechanisms available, which also include the emergency reserves.
As for the prices, Minister Burduja says these depend on many variables at the international level. According to specialized media sources, gas prices in Europe on Monday went down by 6.5% after last week’s 40 % growth against the favorable weather forecasts and the international efforts to keep the Middle East situation under control. For the Romanian consumers, the Minister says, the idea of maintaining the cap scheme is a wise decision against the present international background, including after the war that broke out between Israel and the terrorist Palestinian organization Hamas.
(Bogdan Matei, Radio Romania international)
