Getting all the required permits alone took a year, considering Romania, despite being the fourth largest European gas producer, is just taking the first steps towards compressed natural gas-based mobility.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria, a country that lacks in resources, has more than 100 compressed natural gas fueling stations in place.
“We hope to grow to 10 to 15 compressed natural gas fueling stations in the near future, but it is rather difficult to provide estimates, conserving the market is just beginning. Our expansion will depend on the fleets using this type of fuel. We’re caught in a chicken or the egg dilemma,” says Eric Stab, chairman and CEO of Engie Romania, an over EUR1 billion business serving more than 1.7 million consumers of natural gas.
The company is now taking significant steps towards diversification of its portfolio, so alternative mobility solutions, energy efficiency solutions or supplying electricity to household consumers are all appealing prospects at the moment.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)