They added that Romania already is the largest producer of natural gas among the European Union member states, as a result of the increase in Romgaz production in 2024 and the resumption of large-scale exploitation, including in the Caragele area
“With current production of about 8-10 billion Nm³, Romania fully covers its consumption, without depending on imports. From 2027, Romania’s annual production will double, up to 18-20 billion Nm³. We will therefore produce, from the first year of operation, a quantity of gas at least twice as large as Romania’s current domestic consumption”, ministry officials pointed out.
The ministry on Wednesday provided clarifications regarding information regarding agreements on natural gas exports from the Neptun Deep perimeter, showing that Romania has assumed the role of leader in the European energy sector.
“The information regarding the future export, after 2027, of a quantity of natural gas from the Neptun Deep perimeter, by OMV Petrom to a major company in Germany, represents a natural step within a project of strategic importance for our country and for Europe. This is a tiny proportion, as Neptun Deep has reserves estimated at over 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Moreover, these estimates may increase significantly as drilling operations advance. We ensure that this resource will be used responsibly for the benefit of Romania and our citizens. Each partner in the project, both Romgaz and OMV Petrom, is responsible for their own decisions to market the gas exploited in the future, under the law and while protecting Romania’s energy security. Helping Europe get rid of Russian influence on energy resources is an objective that interests us, in the spirit of European solidarity and the single market. This step reconfirms Romania’s position as a regional pillar of the European Union’s energy security,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, “Romania is already the largest producer of natural gas among the European Union member states, as a result of the increase in Romgaz production in 2024 and the resumption of large-scale exploitation, including in the Caragele area. With current production of about 8-10 billion Nm³, Romania fully covers its consumption, without depending on imports. From 2027, Romania’s annual production will double, up to 18-20 billion Nm³. We will therefore produce, from the first year of operation, a quantity of gas at least twice as large as Romania’s current domestic consumption. In this context, we can firmly say that there is no danger that Romanians will be left without natural gas, and our country is in a privileged position to ensure regional energy security, including that of the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, royalties and taxes on gas exported to Europeans are paid in Romania and become income for the Romanian state budget.
“Romanians can rest assured: the Romanian state has all the levers to ensure that the gas from the Black Sea will reach Romania first and only the surplus will be sold. In fact, the Romanian state, through Romgaz, owns half of the deposit. I appeal to all political actors not to manipulate and not to misinform about strategic projects that can bring at least 20 billion euros to the Romanian state. The export of natural gas is clear proof of the fact that we are already a pillar of stability and energy security in Europe. It is a concrete contribution to European energy independence, reducing the influence of resources from outside the European Union and consolidating our country’s strategic partnerships,” according to Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja.
The minister also said that the Neptun Deep project requires an investment of EUR4 billion and any project of such magnitude is also based on commercial contracts that support capital costs and which, as a rule, are concluded before the actual start of exploitation works.
On January 7, 2025, News agency Reuters reported citing sources familiar with the matter, that Austrian group OMV reached a deal to supply natural gas from its Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea to German company Uniper, starting with 2027, as Europe looks for new ways to boost its energy security after a rift with Russia. The five-year deal for 15 terawatt-hours of natural gas from the Neptun Deep project, which was not previously disclosed, comes after Russia stopped delivering gas through Ukraine last month and after a broader reduction in EU energy purchases from the country due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The total volume of the contract represents approximately 1.5% of Germany’s gas imports in 2024 and would be the first supply agreement from the long-awaited deep-sea gas extraction project, more than a decade after gas was first discovered in Romania’s section of the Black Sea.
Neptun Deep, which is expected to start production in 2027, holds around 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of recoverable gas, making it one of the EU’s most important natural gas fields. Once operational, Romania will become the EU’s largest gas producer and a net gas exporter for the first time. OMV Petrom, which is majority-owned by OMV, with Romania holding a 20.7% stake, first announced it had discovered 42-84 billion cubic meters of gas in the Black Sea in 2012.