The claim circulated in the public space that Romania would deliver cheap natural gas to Austria, to the detriment of Romanian citizens, is completely unfounded, claim representatives of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), in a statement.
The institution makes these clarifications in the context of “some erroneous statements that have recently appeared in the public space, formulated by certain political leaders whose statements contradict Romania’s economic and energy security interests”.
“Romania does not ‘subsidize’ gas exports. The claim that Romania would deliver cheap natural gas to Austria, to the detriment of Romanian citizens, is completely unfounded. Senator Petrișor Peiu claimed that the transport tariffs applied at the Csanadpalota interconnection point (border with Hungary) would have been reduced by 40%. This information is false. The transport tariffs are identical, both for the interconnection points and for the internal ones. The so-called ‘40% reduction’, invoked by Senator Peiu, does not apply to standard transport, but refers exclusively to special services, applicable only under restrictive conditions – when the infrastructure is already occupied. This interruptible capacity implies the risk that the user will not be able to access it, which justifies a differentiated tariff compared to the firm capacity”, the press release states.
According to the cited source, the Romanian state does not sell ‘cheap’ gas to Austria.
“The price of natural gas is determined by the market, not by a transport tariff set by the state. Romania does not have a “subsidized export” mechanism. Gas reaches foreign markets, including Austria, depending on commercial conditions, and the revenues obtained from these transactions go to the economic operators that extract or transport gas, not to the “Austrian state”, the document cited by Agerpres also states.
At the same time, transport costs are not borne by Romanian consumers for exports. “On the contrary, transport capacities reserved for export generate revenues that contribute to covering the total costs of the system, thus reducing the need to increase domestic tariffs. Each MWh transported through the interconnection points brings additional revenues, contributing to covering the costs of the system”, the cited source states.
On the other hand, statements such as “Romanians pay more so that we can give the Austrians cheap gas” are inaccurate and have a purely political nature, ANRE mentions.
“Romania does not sabotage its own citizens, but responsibly assumes the role of a supplier responsible for regional and European energy security. Romania is consolidating its position as an important actor in the region’s energy security, including contributing to the supply of Ukraine through the Vertical Corridor – a strategic route connecting Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Transgaz, the national natural gas transmission operator, will soon launch the allocation procedure for “supergrouped” capacities (monthly bundled capacity) to Ukraine, including segments from all four mentioned countries.”, the document also states.
AUR Senator Petrișor Peiu signaled on Sunday, in a statement, that the Romanian state, through the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), decided that the gas transport tariff would be 40% lower for exports to Austria than for domestic consumption in Romania.
“I will tell you, very briefly, how we pay for the right to export cheap gas to Austria. Well, very simple! The National Energy Regulatory Authority has established the following: the gas transport tariff is 40% lower if the gas is exported to Austria than if it is transported within Romania. Therefore, all transport tariffs for gas exported to Austria are 40% lower than the transport tariffs for gas consumed in Romania, for us, for Romanian consumers. This is how the Austrian consumer is favored to the detriment of the Romanian consumer. By whom? By the Romanian state. And for what? To consume Romanian gas. Is this the justice we want to see in the coming years? It is completely unacceptable that, in a tense European context, in which Romania is called upon to contribute to the EU’s energy security, our state sabotages its own citizens in favor of consumers from abroad. We export cheaply, but here we are, paying dearly! “, declared AUR senator Petrișor Peiu, quoted in the press release.