Discussions with operators regarding the gradual elimination of the gas price cap began in September, in order to have several scenarios and to avoid a price increase after March 31, said Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan on Thursday at the end of the National Energy Command meeting. One of the scenarios would be the return to a “gas release” program, which would ensure market liquidity for a well-defined period.
“Discussions have started with operators since September, in order to have different working scenarios. At the moment, based on the predictions we have, we will not have a price increase after March 31, 2026. What is very important, for example, even now there are operators who supply natural gas below the price capped by law, today, given that we have sufficient production. Further, if we are still talking about option B, in which very unlikely events occur that would disrupt the market, we are taking into account the scenario in which we have a gradual reduction of this cap. That is, we do not have, as in the case of electricity, when, from July 1, prices for the final consumer suddenly doubled… in the case of gas, we are also taking into account this scenario. The basic scenario is the one in which, together with the market operators, we ensure that we do not have any disruption and that we will continue to have a healthy price on the market, below the price capped today. Given that we have domestic production, in “The conditions in which we start to exploit Neptun Deep from 2027, we have the prediction to ensure that during the next winter we will not have disruptions and increased prices”, explained Bogdan Ivan.
In December, officials of the most important companies in the industry (represented in ACUE) raised the possibility of introducing a gas release program.
“From our point of view, the natural gas cap must be eliminated. We believe in the beneficial effects of the free market, but the exit from the cap must be planned very well. Unlike electricity, the exit from the cap will be made in the warm season, when the bills, at least for household customers, are the lowest on the natural gas side. But that does not mean that some unwanted developments on the wholesale market in terms of price would not subsequently influence the final price of gas, and therefore the bill in the cold season. Therefore, we believe that the exit from the cap must be thought out. We believe that a solution would be, for a limited period of time, to return to a gas release program, but we are also open to other solutions, which can ensure the smoothest possible price evolution in the wholesale area”, stated Dana Dărăban, executive director of ACUE, during a press conference.
Minister Bogdan Ivan specified that the new scenario is still being worked on and it could be, for example, a gradual 8-10% reduction until April 2027
“The second scenario, we are now also working on this mechanism, which should last about a year, because we are very interested in the cold season, because then there is a peak in consumption at the national level and especially in the area of household consumers, and we are calculating. It could be a reduction, for example, of 10% gradually, 8-10% each month until April 2027, for the entire market. I repeat, I believe very much in correct market solutions and natural and healthy solutions in which the state intervenes, but intervenes up to a point, because I am interested in the final consumer. But, given that we have very serious companies, companies listed on the stock exchange, although they are majority-owned by the Romanian state, they respond to market requirements and criteria, so that what we do, together with all the operators, is let’s find those healthy mechanisms by which prices are kept low, without brutal state intervention in the market. And now, to be more explicit, there are offers for natural gas below the capped price”, the Minister of Energy stated, quoted by Agerpres.
Until March 31, 2026, the final price invoiced by natural gas suppliers is a maximum of 0.31 lei/kWh, VAT included, for household customers, and a maximum of 0.37 lei/kWh, VAT included, for non-household customers whose annual natural gas consumption in the previous year at the place of consumption is no more than 50,000 MWh, as well as for thermal energy producers and non-household customers within industrial parks regulated by Law no. 186/2013 on the establishment and operation of industrial parks, with subsequent amendments and supplements, as well as those within closed distribution systems defined according to Law no. 123/2012, with subsequent amendments and additions.
