Things are quite unpredictable because we are in an international crisis, and by destroying some production capacities, especially in the Qatar area, the price of gas will continue to be high and we are facing a rather difficult winter and spring 2027 in terms of tariffs, said Cristian Bușoi, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy.

“We are in an international and European crisis. Things seem to have calmed down, but you see they are quite unpredictable. A sustainable, definitive solution has not yet been found for the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. From anything that can happen there, from any incident, from any escalation, we can immediately see new increases in international prices. The international quotation for oil and natural gas is the main concern at the European level in the energy field at the moment. Of course, we have reserve stocks everywhere in Europe, but we are affected by an increase in prices, which has generated and continues to generate chain increases and inflation. Plus, most analyses converge that, by destroying some capacities, especially in the Qatar area, the price of gas will continue to be high and we are waiting for a rather difficult winter and spring 2027 in terms of natural gas prices,” said Bușoi, according to Agerpres.

Regarding the reopening of the Petrotel-Lukoil refinery, the representative of the Ministry of Energy pointed out that the Romanian state has taken some very clear measures to comply with the sanctions imposed on Russia.

“As Secretary of State responsible not only for European affairs, but also for international relations, I have dealt with the relationship with OFAC (The Office of Foreign Assets Control, n.r.), from the very beginning, explaining what we do to comply with the sanctions and ultimately, the philosophy, the essence of these sanctions, that no money from Romania, from operations, goes to Russia and does not directly or indirectly support the killing of civilians and the killing of soldiers in Ukraine. From this point of view, the Romanian state has taken some very clear measures. First of all, there is certainly that ordinance with the supervisor that I appointed and who is watching that things happen in this direction. Of course, there is also Eximbank, an extremely professional and extremely strict state bank in applying these sanctions and in ensuring that this does not happen (…) Petrotel – Lukoil needs a six-month horizon to be worth starting to buy crude oil, a product that it can refine from the international market, from somewhere else, obviously other than Russia, because it is prohibited. (…) from the point of view of secondary sanctions of any entity working with Lukoil – Petrotel for the next six months, from the US Treasury Department, from OFAC, a firm assurance was received that this will not happen until October 29. In parallel, for gas stations, but not only for those in Romania, for all international operations, on the retail side of gas stations there is an extension also until October 29”, the dignitary mentioned.