Romania has emerged as a pivotal actor in Southeastern Europe’s energy security landscape, policymakers, industry executives and international experts converged at a recent Atlantic Council discussion in Bucharest. Under Chatham House rules, more than 20 participants charted a coherent, long-term energy strategy for the country and its neighbors. They underscored that Romania’s abundant gas reserves, hydropower potential and nuclear expertise, when aligned within a predictable regulatory framework and underpinned by strong partnerships as the one with the US, can transform the nation from a transit route into a regional energy hub.

Building on candid, high-level dialogue, participants agreed on three imperatives: policy predictability to unlock private capital; coordinated regional action to strengthen interconnectors and storage facilities; and strategic leveraging of natural gas as both a balancing fuel and an industrial feedstock. They called for moving beyond reactive, election-driven fixes toward disciplined planning that prioritizes large-scale, system-wide projects over fragmented local initiatives. Consistent regulatory signals, from streamlined permitting to long-term tariff stability, were identified as essential to attract the billions in investment needed for hydro upgrades, nuclear expansion and grid modernization.

Natural gas, they insisted, remains Romania’s competitive edge. Efforts to double Black Sea production — a centerpiece of projects such as Neptune Deep — must be matched by value-added industrial uses (fertilizers, chemicals, power generation) and by selective infrastructure expansion that avoids stranded-asset risk in a decarbonizing Europe. At the same time, hydropower modernization and the planned nuclear units are seen as vital to provide reliable baseload and ancillary services, complementing intermittent renewables. Digital infrastructure and AI-enabled grid management, bolstered by Romania’s strong IT workforce, were also highlighted as enablers of regional integration and market efficiency.

Regional cooperation topped the agenda: the “vertical corridor” gas route and joint planning with Moldova, Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine were deemed non-negotiable for collective resilience against supply shocks and geopolitical pressure. Participants urged Romania to capitalize on the Atlantic Council’s new Bucharest office as both a symbol and instrument of deeper transatlantic engagement, insisting on unfiltered dialogue with US partners to diversify technology supply chains and secure alternatives to Chinese dominance in critical materials.

Looking ahead, Romania stands at a strategic crossroads. The choices made now — on what projects to fund, how to regulate and which alliances to deepen — will determine not only national affordability and competitiveness but also the stability of the wider Black Sea region. With a clear, actionable vision focused on affordability, security and efficiency — and backed by trust-based public–private partnerships — Romania can seize its moment as a regional energy leader and a partner of choice for transatlantic cooperation.

Here are the 10 key takeaways of a solid conversation:

1. Romania is at a strategic crossroads, needing to move from short-term crisis management to long-term, consistent energy planning.
2. Energy security is inherently diplomatic, demanding coordinated regional action and reliable partnerships, particularly with the United States.
3. Policy predictability and regulatory reform are essential to attract and sustain private investment in large-scale, strategic projects.
4. Natural gas remains a critical advantage, but its use must be carefully planned to support industrial value-add and regional export potential.
5. Hydropower modernization and nuclear expansion are vital for balancing Romania’s energy mix and delivering reliable baseload capacity.
6. Avoiding new technological dependencies is a priority, with calls to build local capacity and reduce reliance on external suppliers for renewable and storage technologies.
7. Energy industry faces practical challenges, including rising CAPEX costs, complex permitting, and fragmented funding that undermines system-level improvements.
8. Regional cooperation is non-negotiable, with shared infrastructure and planning needed to support Moldova, Ukraine, and broader Black Sea security.
9. Digital infrastructure and innovation are seen as core enablers of the energy transition, requiring integration into strategic planning from the outset.
10. Trust-based, direct dialogue among government, industry, and partners is essential to set clear priorities, share risk, and deliver an affordable, secure, and sustainable energy future.

This report was created by Energynomics for the benefit of all participants. We thank the speakers for their insightful and valued contributions to this discussion.

Here is the .pdf file “Building regional energy security together: Romania’s strategic vision, regional cooperation, and US partnership — Insights from the Atlantic Council Chatham House discussion, Bucharest, June 2025”.

Autor: Gabriel Avăcăriței

Gabriel Avăcăriței is a journalist and communicator with over a decade of experience in Romania’s energy sector. Since 2013, he has been Editor-in-Chief of Energynomics, the country’s leading B2B communication platform for the energy industry. He moderates all Energynomics conferences and debates, bringing clarity and depth to discussions among policymakers, business leaders, and innovators. Under his leadership, Energynomics has evolved into the most comprehensive editorial project in Romania’s energy field, combining a news website, quarterly magazine, and a wide portfolio of industry events that inform and connect the energy community.