Romanian MPs abolish ban to construct gas pipelines on Black Sea’s beaches

The Chamber of Deputies adopted yesterday a draft law that abolishes the ban to construct gas pipelines in the coastal zone of the Black Sea, including beaches. The explanation is that the future gas production in Black Sea’s offshore perimeters needs to be taken over in the national gas transport system operated by Transgaz, reports local Profit.ro. Some of the most important offshore perimeters in the Black Sea are operated by OMV Petrom-ExxonMobil and Lukoil-Romgaz. The bill includes several exemptions from the current legislation. They are aimed at speeding up the authorization process for the construction work of the international pipeline that will connect the gas transport systems of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Austria (BRUA). The bill also provides that the gas projects of national importance, such as BRUA, can be implemented without the approval of the landowners whose land will be crossed over by pipelines. editor@romania-insider.com