Romania confident of winter gas supply, ready to help Moldova

Romania is confident that it will have enough natural gas to meet its needs during the upcoming winter, even if it is called upon to help its neighbour, Moldova, which is more reliant on Russian gas.

"The current level of filling of gas storage facilities is 100.6%, and with what we will produce more in the cold season, we should, in a moderate scenario, get through the coming winter without imports," Burduja said.

"In the legal act related to winter preparedness, we have developed several scenarios that take into account the average temperatures and the possibility that Romania could support other states, specifically, to support our brothers across the Prut River. In a moderate scenario, Romania will not have any problems, given the level of filling. And I announce to you that today it is 100.6%. So, we have more than 100% of the available technical reserves at the level of storage capacities. We have 400 million, 417 million to be precise, cubic metres more than last year, in the same period. So, with what we produce more in the cold season, even if it is a smaller production for technical reasons, with what we have in storage, we should be able to get through this winter without resorting to imports," the minister said.

He emphasised that if the winter is very severe and if Moldova requests Romania's support at a level that cannot be covered from stocks and production, there is the option of taking gas from Azerbaijan or resorting to a possible purchase of liquefied natural gas.

"We have the option of taking gas from Azerbaijan. We still have this option secured before my mandate and it is valid until next spring. We are talking about a billion cubic metres that we can draw on if necessary. Or a possible purchase of liquefied gas from Greece, most likely, or another option," Burduja said.

Translation by Iurie Tataru