Energy market regulator ANRE called on natural gas importers Romgaz, GDF Suez Energy Romania and E.ON to buy 22% of the needed natural gas from external markets, as prices are lower in summer months.
“We want gas imports to cover 20% of consumption this summer,” ANRE head Niculae Havrilet told Mediafax Monday.
On the other hand, natural gas transporter Transgaz Medias (TGN.RO) proposes that Romanian natural gas imports in June do not exceed 0.5% of consumption.
The proposition made by Transgaz would lead to higher natural gas bills this winter, Havrilet explained.
The price of imported natural gas is currently $400 per 1,000 cubic meters, compared to $550 per 1,000 cubic meters in winter months, he added.
The domestic natural gas production is secured almost entirely by companies OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) and Romgaz Medias and covers about two thirds of consumption, while the remaining one third is imported from Russia.
Romania has pledged to deregulate gas and electricity prices for both households and industrial consumers in several steps by 2018.
Household natural gas prices will increase by 8% starting July 1, and by 2% starting October 1. Natural gas prices for industrial consumers will be 5% higher starting July and will increase by an additional 3% in October.