Romania approves mechanism aimed at keeping natural gas price low

The Government of Romania approved on March 5 an emergency ordinance introducing a new mechanism intended to keep natural gas prices for household consumers stable after the current price cap expires on April 1. Officials described the scheme as a “unique measure at European level,” arguing that it should prevent a price increase for households.

Under the current system, the retail gas price for households is capped at RON 0.31 per kWh. Once this cap expires, the Government plans to introduce a regulated supply mechanism that will remain in place for one year, until additional domestic production is expected to enter the market in 2027, when OMV Petrom and Romgaz start output from the Neptun Deep offshore project in the Black Sea.