New gas delivery decrease from Gazprom, but Romania ready to take on winter without Russian gas

Russia’s Gazprom will cut gas deliveries to Romania by 10% starting Tuesday, September 16, without giving any explanations, said the Romanian Energy Minister , Razvan Nicolescu. The move came a few days after Gazprom diminished gas deliveries to Romania by 5%, for which an explanation was not given either. Romanian officials contacted the Russian ambassador to Bucharest, but they were told he was not in Bucharest. However, even if gas delivery will stop completely over the winter, Romania is not at risk, as it has enough gas in its deposits, above the maximum imposed by the energy authority. Plus, gas production is at a maximum, as drilling started this spring in new areas, allowing Romgaz and Petrom to reach maximum production. While Romania is ready to take care of itself is gas deliveries from Russia stop this winter, it won’t be able to help other countries, if gas deliveries to Europe also stop. Technically, it is impossible for Romania to help Bulgaria, Serbia and Ukraine. Romania could only help the Republic of Moldova via the Iasi – Ungheni gas pipe, but it would anyway be able to cover about 3% of Moldova’s gas needs. Romania’s gas imports from Russia are back to normal, but uncertainty remains editor@romania-insider.com