Security, competitiveness and transition: Eurogas FPE also demands that the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and the Regulation on the reduction of methane emissions (MER) take into account Romania’s realities
Bucharest, September 30, 2026 – Eurogas, together with Federația Patronală a Energiei FPE(), organized the Eurogas Annual Regional Conference in Bucharest, for the first time in Romania, under the theme „Advancing Security, Delivering Sustainability: Romania’s role in building a resilient and competitive energy transition in Eastern Europe”. The conference brought together representatives of European and Romanian institutions, the industry, and relevant organizations. The discussions focused on domestic gas production, Neptune Deep, and two European regulations with disproportionate impact on Romania: the CO₂ storage obligation under the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and the Regulation on methane emissions (MER).
With the entry of Neptun Deep into production in the first half of 2027, Romania becomes the largest natural gas producer in the European Union and can contribute significantly to the energy security of Central and Eastern Europe. That is precisely why the European regulatory framework must support these investments, not discourage them.
Neptun Deep and Romania's new role in regional energy security
Franck Neel, President of the Federation of Energy Employers (FPE), emphasized that the European energy transition needs both ambition and applicable policies. The storage obligation in NZIA, of almost 10 million tons of CO₂ for Romania, and the MER, which must be applied practically and pragmatically, put pressure on investments in Europe.
„It seems that it is easier to invest outside of Europe if we continue to put so many constraints on the industry.”
Cristian Signoretto, President of Eurogas, pointed out that Neptun Deep could double Romania’s gas production and turn it into a net exporter to the European Union. Eurogas supports the objectives of MER, he stated, but considers that its implementation must be calibrated so as not to affect the new supply contracts and upstream investments.
„That regulation must be calibrated and reasonable in implementation, so as not to jeopardize the new supply contracts and the new upstream investments.”
Cristian Bușoi, State Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, confirmed that Romania will support the review of the MER and the modification of the obligations in the NZIA in Brussels, where our country is disproportionately affected.
„Romania will have to pay and spend significant amounts of money to monitor sites that may no longer be in production from the last century.”
Dennis Hesseling, Director of the Gas and Coal Markets Division of the International Energy Agency (IEA), spoke about the impact of Neptune Deep on regional dynamics and the pressure on the global market following the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. About the new LNG capacities that have entered the market, he said:
„These cover up to two-thirds of the loss so far. Otherwise, we would really be missing 50 billion cubic meters.”
Diana Barglazan, Coordinator for Romania within the DG Energy of the European Commission, confirmed the strategic role of domestic gas production:
„If it is a strategic asset, if it is important, I believe the answer is yes, without any hesitation.”
Members of ROMGAZ, OMV Petrom and Black Sea Oil & Gas also made an important contribution to the debate FPE, bringing the concrete perspective of companies that invest and develop energy projects in Romania.
Răzvan Popescu, General Director of ROMGAZ, emphasized that the domestic production and Neptun Deep must be viewed as strategic assets in a Europe where less than 10% of its consumption is covered by its own production. He directly linked the prices to energy policy decisions:
„The prices this year, the prices this winter, the prices next year are simply a consequence of these policies.”
Alexandru Maximescu, Vice President of Corporate Public Affairs and Regulatory Affairs at OMV Petrom, pointed out that Neptun Deep will be delivered in approximately 4 years, compared to an average of 6 years for similar projects. He called for a balanced approach to regulation:
„In recent years we have had regulations like NZIA that have put a very high pressure, especially on gas producers.”
NZIA: CO₂ storage obligations and the challenge of implementation
Oana Ijdelea, Member of the Board, Black Sea Oil & Gas, pointed out that the 44 progress reports submitted this year by companies obliged by the NZIA do not demonstrate the feasibility of long-term storage. She spoke about:
„obligations that are technically and geologically impossible to fulfill”
Oana Ijdelea also highlighted the opportunity for the development of biomethane.
Daniel Apostol, General Director of the Employers' Federation of Energy (FPE), called for the national production of natural gas to be used as an argument in European negotiations:
„It should be a major political capital for the Romanian state in all discussions in Brussels”
„We must accept that some regulations are dysfunctional, unrealistic and can be corrected for the benefit of Europe.”
Decarbonization, CCS and biomethane: the conditions for investment
In the panel dedicated to industrial decarbonization, Radu Dudău, President of the Energy Policy Group (EPG), directly named the problem:
„We need to get rid of some burdensome regulations. Probably NZIA is the most burdensome.”
Adrian Porfir, Director of the CCUS Program at Holcim Romania, whose capture project received 146 million euros from the Innovation Fund, saw CCS as an opportunity:
„We have the opportunity to turn Romania into a regional hub for CO₂.”
Leonard Costel Florea, Expert in regulation within the Department of Energy Transition and Hydrogen, ANRE, however, mentioned that, for the transport of CO₂:
„We go over everything in Romania, on surfaces that belong to private property”
Michał Tarka, Founder and General Director of the Polish Biomethane Organization, summarized Poland’s experience in implementing biogas projects:
„The main problem is, of course, regulation”
Raluca Alexandra Covrig, Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Federația Patronală a Energiei FPE(), discussed the difference between the ambition of European policies and the reality of their implementation. Of the European target of 50 million tons of CO₂ stored annually by 2030, 20% come from the three companies obliged to comply in Romania. For MER, the more than 60,000 probes in Romania mean an estimated implementation cost of about 1.4 billion euros.
„We must not only comply but also truly negotiate European policies.”
Conclusion
Andreas Guth, Secretary General of Eurogas, closed the conference with a question for Brussels:
„The question I would ask myself, I think, is whether Europe really has a strategy for the gas sector.”
The conclusion of the conference is that Romania has resources, projects and a strategic position that it can turn into an advantage for the national economy and for regional energy security. For this potential to become reality, the NZIA and MER need to be adapted to the realities of the member states, and the regulatory framework must be predictable and built through dialogue between industry, national authorities and European institutions.
Energy security and the transition are not two separate conversations. And competitiveness must remain part of both.
FPE He thanks Eurogas for the partnership and for the excellent collaboration in organizing this edition in Bucharest. The conference was moderated by Ligia Munteanu, Journalist and News Presenter, Digi24 TV.
About Federația Patronală a Energiei ()FPE
Federația Patronală a Energiei (FPE) founded in 1991, is a promoter of the actions necessary for Romania to enjoy abundant energy, accessible at a reasonable price, obtained in compliance with environmental protection principles. It Federația Patronală a Energiei represents 95% of Romania’s oil and gas industry and is acquiring increasing relevance in the field of renewable energy and the technologies necessary to reduce emissions, in line with their development in our country.
The Federation undertakes the mission of making known, at the level of European and national institutions, the interests of the private sector and how they can be aligned with national and European Union objectives, stimulating dialogue. Another objective pursued is the information and education of the general public, preparing it for the new realities in the energy field.
About Eurogas
Eurogas is the association that represents the natural gas sector in Europe. Eurogas leads the sector’s transition towards climate neutrality through dialogue with stakeholders and decision-makers, so that gas can be used efficiently for decarbonizing the European energy sector.
Founded in 1990, Eurogas currently has over 100 members from Europe and around the world and is active throughout the entire gas value chain, including the field of renewable and low-carbon gas, their derivatives and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). Eurogas members cover the wholesale and retail markets for gas, the distribution of gaseous energy and the use of gas in transport. Eurogas also represents technology providers, including companies active in the management of methane emissions along the value chain.
