We celebrate today, September 13, the Romanian Gas Operator's Day. The Oil and Gas Employers' Federation, through its member companies, sends a message of gratitude to all the people working in the natural gas sector and recalls on this occasion the importance of adopting public policies aimed at supporting the development of this branch.
Average natural gas production in recent years has been around 11 bcm, making Romania the largest natural gas producer in Eastern Europe. In the current context, we note the acute need to encourage investment in the sector in order to increase the industry's role in the development of the national economy and to effectively protect vulnerable energy consumers.
Given the tradition and the economic importance of the Romanian gas sector, as well as the extensive public debate on its prospects, the FPPG believes that the development of the natural gas market can bring numerous benefits for the people committed to the industry. By stimulating investments in essential infrastructure and at the same time supporting the sustainable consumption of natural gas in electricity generation, natural gas from domestic production can be used at increased added value.
Natural gas is the most important fuel in the Romanian economy, accounting for 31% of primary energy. The history of the sector is already 111 years old, since the first natural gas emissions were discovered in Sărmășel, jud. Mures in 1909. The year 1910 marks the first intention to transport gas in Europe, completed in 1914 with the first natural gas transmission pipeline in Europe, from Sărmășel to Turda over a distance of 55 km. In 1915, Europe's first company, Ungarische Erdgas Gesellschaft (UEG), is set up with the exclusive purpose of exploring, drilling, exploiting, transporting and distributing natural gas in the Transylvanian basin.
After years steeped in history, during which we were pioneers in the field, the prospects for Romania are bright. The BRUA gas pipeline aims to increase the security of the country's natural gas supply through access to new resources, as well as the transit of natural gas production from the Caspian Basin to European markets. Through the Romania - Bulgaria interconnector and the future Bulgaria - Greece interconnector, Romania will have access to the Southern Gas Corridor. BRUA is an extremely important step for our country in terms of the development of the national natural gas transportation system, as well as a way to access the European markets for part of the potential Romanian production from the Black Sea.
We express our appreciation to the tens of thousands of dedicated people who work or have worked in this industry of national strategic importance and congratulate them for their dedication to the Romanian gas sector.
