Official: Romania to be 100% energy hub from 2027

Romania will be a 100% energy hub from 2027 and must take advantage of its natural gas reserves and transform them into an alternative source of the future through compressed natural gas, Secretary of State with the Ministry of Energy Pavel-Casian Nitulescu told a specialist conference on Wednesday."The previous years, marked by a crisis in energy prices, by the armed conflict at the borders of the European Union, have led to a rethinking of the way member states relate to the issue of energy security. All have led to a redefinition of energy supply sources, including natural gas, even though Romania relies on a major layer of natural gas - and as we know, natural gas is considered a transition fuel. From 2027 we will be 100% an energy hub. At the same time, we must take advantage of the resource we have and succeed in transforming it, through compressed natural gas, into an alternative source of our future. (...) I want to assure you that the Ministry of Energy is concerned with the measures and actions that can contribute harmoniously to the transformation of the energy sector, so that we can optimally manage this path, which will not be easy, but can be safe," Pavel-Casian Nitulescu mentioned at the "Transition Energy" conference.He stressed the importance of raising awareness of the benefits of using alternative fuel sources in the transition to a clean economy."I appreciate the relevance of alternative sources, which, firstly, lies in reducing dependence on fossil sources. Secondly, they contribute to ensuring a flexible energy supply and, last but not least, they make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions. As we are all well aware, we are going through a period of far-reaching transformations at European and national level in a number of well-connected areas of activity, such as energy, transport, agriculture and industry, and they have a well-defined role to play in the transition process. Therefore, before the challenges, the transition offers us in all these areas the opportunity to introduce new, low-carbon technologies such as compressed natural gas," he added.He noted that there is legislation in this regard, namely Law 34/2017 which sets the minimum requirements for the creation of infrastructure for alternative fuels, including electric car charging points and refuelling points for compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and the future fuel, hydrogen, implemented through the National Policy Framework."The authorities involved in the National Policy Framework strategy are the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, which prepared in 2018 Government Decision No 87, which recognizes the role of compressed natural gas in the country's energy security and in the decarbonisation of the transport sector, together, of course, with other alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels, biomethane, liquefied petroleum gas. I truly believe that there is an untapped potential for alternative fuels," said Pavel-Casian Nitulescu.