Romania's gas storage facilities are filled at 43.4% of capacity, which represents 1.35 billion cubic meters, and there is no risk of gas shortages or malfunctions in the supply of the population, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja assures.
He said that he decided to send the Control Body to underground storage operator Depogaz starting Friday to verify whether the rules are being respected, including the withdrawal program.
"Romania has 1.35 billion normal cubic meters in storage, with an overall filling rate of 43.4%, with 42.7% at Depogaz and 49.7% at Depomures. Today, I called a Winter Command meeting with the main institutions and companies involved in the gas sector - producers, suppliers, distributors, Transgaz, Depogaz - to analyze the situation of gas stocks and to ensure the continuity of supply. (...) The conclusion of the experts with whom I analyzed the situation is unequivocal: Romania will not be left without gas for its citizens and companies! There is no risk of gas shortages or dysfunctions in supplying the population. Romania has enough resources to get through this winter, even if on certain days we resort to imports, including in order to support our brothers across the Prut," the energy minister emphasized in a statement.
According to him, the purpose of storage facilities is to be used and help during the harsh days of winter, and the fact that the filling degree gets lower is not a sign of crisis, but of normality.
"At the end of March, we will still have over half a billion normal cubic meters of gas in stock. We have no reason to worry," Burduja specified.
Regarding the aid for the Republic of Moldova, he said that it is offered "under fair commercial conditions" and that supplies to Romania are not endangered.
Also, the energy minister reiterated that the bills remain under control, because electricity and gas prices are capped at least until April 1.
"There is no danger of price increases for the end consumer. At this moment, according to Eurostat data, Romanians pay the 4th lowest price for gas in the European Union," Sebastian Burduja pointed out.
He also announced that he has decided to send the Control Body to Depogaz starting Friday, "because it is our duty to make sure that every cubic meter of gas is managed correctly, that the rules are observed, including the withdrawal program, and that supply security comes first", adding and that if irregularities are found, these "will be severely sanctioned".
"The report will be public. I will take the necessary measures without hesitation," warned the minister.
"Romania is not running out of gas, and Romanians do not need to worry. I trust the people in the energy sector to manage the situation responsibly and transparently," Sebastian Burduja underscored.
Depogaz announced on Wednesday that the current filling level of gas storage facilities is 42.8% of the technical capacity and that, starting from Friday, it will reduce the agreed gas withdrawal programs.
"Having in view: the filling degree of the deposits at this time, which is 42.8% of the technical storage capacity; the filling degree of 26%, respectively 20% of the Bilciuresti and Urziceni deposits, which ensure approximately 75% of the daily extraction capacity; the gas amounts extracted in November 2024 in addition to the monthly withdrawal program agreed with the beneficiaries of the storage service; the decrease of the daily withdrawal capacity over December 2024 - March 2025, due to the use of the Bilciuresti and Urziceni deposits at high capacity to cover the daily requests by the beneficiaries of the storage services in November 2024; the influence of the deposits' filling degree on the daily withdrawal capacity, we inform you that starting with 7.02.2025 we will have to reduce the agreed withdrawal programs," Depogaz announced in a statement posted on its company's website.
Thus, the withdrawal programs will be reduced by 20% over February 7 - 23, by 40% over February 24 - 28, by 14% over March 1 - 12, and by 75% over March 13 - 31.
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