Moldova hopes for earliest possible commissioning of Neptun Deep gas field in Romania - Moldovan PM
CHISINAU. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The natural gas that will be produced at Romania's' Neptun Deep field in the Black Sea will be a more attractive source of energy resources for Moldova than purchases at the TTF hub in the Netherlands, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said.
"We hope for the earliest possible commissioning of the Neptun Deep gas field next year, which will contribute to our energy independence. Of course, we will pay market prices there, but this is a more attractive source than buying gas on the Dutch stock exchange," Tofan said in an interview with the Romanian agency Agerpres.
Tofan emphasized the high vulnerability of Moldova, which has no energy resources of its own, to fluctuations in international energy markets. Energy imports into the country amount to almost 10% of GDP, so every external shock is quickly transmitted to the economy, he said.
Earlier in September, Tofan said that Moldova is conducting negotiations on long-term bilateral gas contracts with the Romanian companies Romgaz and OMV Petrom for volumes of gas that will be produced at the Neptun Deep field. The purchase price will be tied to the market, but will provide for a discount by agreement, he said.
As reported, Moldova entered another round of the energy crisis in August-September, due to which domestic gas tariffs rose 1.7-fold over two months, and the country is also facing a sharp rise in the cost of imported petroleum products. Since September 26, a state of emergency in the energy sector has been in effect in Moldova.
The Neptun Deep project on the shelf in Romania's sector of the Black Sea is being developed by the companies OMV Petrom and Romgaz, each of which owns 50% of the shares in the project. OMV Petrom announced that the start of gas production is expected in H1 2027, and peak production will be reached by the end of Q3 of that year. The annual natural gas production on the plateau is estimated at around 8 billion cubic meters.
Right-bank Moldova consumes approximately 0.9 bcm of gas per year, purchasing it on trading platforms, mainly in Romania.
