The gas market will be developed and run by the local energy exchange OPCOM, the document obtained by Mediafax noted.
“Once the new trading platform is operational, energy and gas investors will be able to buy shares in OPCOM to support the diversification of OPCOM’s shareholder base,” the government said in the memorandum.
OPCOM market is fully owned by Romanian state-run power grid operator Transelectrica (TEL.RO).
The authorities have tried to sell shares in OPCOM to other energy bourses in the past or even to negotiate a merger with one of its peers in the region, but with no success.
Late 2011, the European Commission has urged Romania to step up the deregulation of natural gas and electricity, recommending the authorities develop a trading exchange in the gas market, similar to OPCOM.
Romania’s dominant gas producers are OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) and state-run company Romgaz Medias.