The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) asked, on Wednesday, President Nicușor Dan to initiate in the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) a debate on Romania’s energy security in order to analyze the decision by which the Romanian state will purchase natural gas at a certain price from OMV Petrom, based on the pre-emptive right related to the exploitation of gas from the Neptun Deep perimeter, according to Agerpres.
According to the trade union confederation, all institutions with responsibilities in the field should participate in the CSAT debate, such as: the Ministry of Energy, the National Energy Regulatory Authority and the Competition Council.
In this context, the NBS mentions that it took note of the fact that the head of state promulgated Law No. 171/2026 regarding some budgetary measures.
“Specifically, the law aims to purchase 49.9 million MWh (49.9 TWh) of natural gas through the Neptun Deep project, for a total value of over 2.4 billion euro. According to the regulatory act, during the period 2027-2034, the Romanian state will purchase natural gas at a price of 48.752 euros/MWh from OMV Petrom, based on the pre-emptive right related to the exploitation of gas from the Neptun Deep perimeter. Romania has approximately 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas in this offshore perimeter, half of which is exploited by ROMGAZ. We are not talking about a decision with an effect limited to a commercial transaction. We are talking about a decision that can have effects on the state budget, population bills, electricity prices, the competitiveness of Romanian industry and Romania’s attractiveness for investments, for seven years,” the open letter sent to the President of Romania states.
The NBS believes that this legislative decision could generate at least two scenarios with major effects on Romania. The first scenario is that the price of gas on the free market would be lower than the price of 48.752 euros/MWh established by law. In this situation, the Romanian state would buy the gas at a price higher than the market price and would subsequently have to sell it in a market context where the price could be lower. The difference could thus become a loss for the Romanian state, ultimately borne by public money.
On the other hand, the price of 48.752 euros/MWh established by law is equivalent to about 256 lei/MWh, above the regulated price of 120 lei/MWh currently applied to domestic producers for gas intended for household consumers and thermal energy producers.
In the second scenario, the additional cost of gas is transferred to the economy and in the prices paid by consumers.
“If we take as a benchmark a price of 22.8 euros/MWh (currently regulated price for the population) and compare it with the price of 48.752 euros/MWh, we are talking about a 113% increase in the price of gas, not a marginal adjustment. This difference cannot be ignored in an economy in which natural gas represents an important component of costs for the population, for industry and for the production of electricity,” say the union leaders.
Moreover, in the case of electricity production based on natural gas, the increase in the cost of fuel is transmitted to the cost of the energy produced and, subsequently, to the prices in the economy. Thus, for 1 MWH of electricity, 2.5 MWH of natural gas are consumed. This means that 1 MWH of electricity reaches over 120 euros. A tariff which, according to energy market practices, will represent the minimum price of active energy, to which are added the costs of transport, distribution, excise duties, VAT and carbon emission certificates. All of this added up will lead to a price of over 180 euros/MWH for the final consumer: industrial or household.
On the other hand, the NBS analysis shows that there is an increase of over 100% in heating bills for the population that heats in a centralized system because the gases will be introduced into the cogeneration plants at a price double the existing one.
“There is also a broader problem, which goes beyond the individual bill. Establishing by law a price of 48.752 euros/MWh for a period of seven years can represent an extremely important economic and investment signal for the Romanian market. In an economy where the price of energy is one of the main factors determining competitiveness, investors need predictability, but also competitive prices. If energy becomes structurally more expensive in Romania, there is a risk that investments will be redirected to other markets, and companies that produce in Romania will lose their competitiveness compared to those in other European countries. In translation, investors will flee and close factories, plants and all businesses that today pay taxes and duties to the state budget and ensure income for millions of workers!” the open letter also says.