“The rates will remain unchanged until 2015,” Chitoiu told a news conference.
He said the government is working on a bill to modify the oil and gas royalty rates starting with 2015. The new rates will be announced by the end of June, Chitoiu added.
Wednesday, Chitoiu said the government will prepare a bill introducing additional taxes on one-time revenue gains of oil companies to be enforced starting with 2013.
The money collected will be used to set up a special fund to support vulnerable energy consumers.
“The category of vulnerable consumers will be defined under the Energy Law, which was sent to parliament for debate,” Chitoiu told reporters. He said the law will be adopted by the end of May.
In 2004, Romania has implemented a set of fixed royalty fees for oil and gas companies ranging between 3.5% and 13% of the production value. The fees are applicable until December 2014.
Romania collects around 1 billion lei (EUR225 million) in gas and oil royalties annually. (EUR1=RON4.4421)