Romania imported 2.13 million tonnes of natural gas in oil equivalent in the first eight months of this year, with 71.8 percent more than in same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), quoted by Agerpres. During this period, Romania produced with 0.9 percent more natural gas than in the first eight months of last year.

Romania's proven reserves of natural gas amounted to 600 billion cubic meters at the end of 2010, representing 0.3 percent of the world's reserves, according to British Petroleum. However, Romania production of natural gas went down with 2.9 percent, to 10.9 billion cubic meters, at the end of last year, while consumption stood at 13.3 billion cubic meters, up 0.6 percent to 2009.

See British Petroleum's report here (PDF version).

According to the Director General of the National Gas Company Romgaz, Marcel Piteiu, Romania’s gas resources are enough to cover a period of 20-30 years, twice of what has been speculated by commentators.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)