Romania needs to define its national interest in energy, capitalise on its strengths and build external partnerships based on its own priorities, not just on directives from outside, in order to truly become a strong state and a regional energy hub, said Lorant Antal, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, Energy Infrastructure and Mineral Resources.
“I believe that the most important thing is to chart the direction in which we want to go, with a major emphasis on a reindustrialisation of Romania. It’s time to start thinking from the perspective of a state that is a producer of electricity and natural gas,” Antal told at the 11th Energy Strategy Summit, the flagship event of Energynomics.
He referred to the Energy Minister’s statement that Romania is going through an energy revolution. In this context, Antal listed several countries that understand an energy revolution in different ways. For example, India’s national coal company has announced the reopening of 30 previously closed mines and the opening of five new mines. Then, the United States has announced that it will invest about $75bn in nuclear power generation capacity by 2030, while China invests $20bn annually in nuclear power capacity. In contract with these countries, the European Union has reached its 18th package of energy bans and regulations.
“So there is indeed a revolution taking place, but everyone understands it differently. This is why it is essential that Romania also comes down to earth and treats this vital area with realism. For years, I have been pointing out that without stable capacity to produce electricity in the grid and without consumers for the energy produced, we have a major economic problem. I do not believe in ‘renewable energy’ as an end in itself. I believe in energy transition. But it has to be done with a head, with responsibility,” Antal said.
He deplored the lack, for many years, of an energy strategy document needed to set a clear direction for Romania’s energy industry
“We boast that we will become energy independent, that we will produce, we will export, but we had no strategic document to guide us. Every player in the industry did what they could, how they could and how they wanted,” he continued.
According to the senator, it is good that investments are being made in renewable energy; however, energy consumption continues to fall. In the natural gas sector, although Romania will become the EU’s biggest gas producer in 2027, the country has no industrial gas consumers.
“Romania, through the entire political class and all the actors involved, must clearly define its national interest in the energy sector. Externally, we must establish a coherent and realistic policy based on our own interests and not just on external directives. Would it not be better first of all to understand what we want from ourselves? To identify our strengths, build on them and seek European or global partnerships based on these strengths? Only then can we truly become a strong state and a regional energy hub,” Antal said.
2025 Energy Strategy Summit was organised by Energynomics, with the support of our partners: AJ Brand, Elektra Renewable Support, ABB, Adrem Asset Management, Alive Capital, BCR, DEKRA, Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania, E-Infra, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, EnergoBit, Enery, Enevo Group, Enexus, European Investment Bank, Evryo, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Delgaz Grid, Genesis Biopartner, Huawei, ING Bank, Jantzen Renewables, Keno Energy, Leader Team, LONGi, Nano Energies, Prime Batteries Technology, Procesio, Procredit Bank, Relians, Renomia, Romgaz, Schneider Electric, script.ai, Sermatec, smartPulse, Solar Today, SolaX, Think Blu Solution, Voltika, Wiren, YEO, AIployees, Aqua Carpatica, Alexandrion, Carbon Tool, Imsol.