site.btaWith Full Storage Facilities, Romania Hopes to Get Through Winter Without Imported Gas

Romania has around 3.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas in its six storage facilities in Bilciuresti, Ghercesti, Sarmasel, Urziceni, Balaceanca and Targu Mures, Digi24 said.

Five of them are managed by Depogaz, with the storage facility in Bilciuresti, Dambovita county, being Romania's largest. It can store up to 1.31 billion cu m of gas. Its 60 wells go down to a depth of 2,000 metres. During the storage season, until November 1, they inject gas into the facility, and in winter they extract it. This winter up to 16.5 million cu m of gas will be extracted daily from that storage facility alone, Depogaz bosses say. A similar amount can be drawn from the other four facilities operated by the Romgaz-controlled company. Domestic gas production could reach 20-25 million cubic metres. On a normal winter day, when consumption is around 50-55 million cubic metres, imports will not be needed.

"If this winter is like last winter, Romania will not need imported gas. Gas from domestic production and storage would be enough to meet requirements," Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja commented recently.

To boost its energy independence, Romania plans to invest around half a billion euro by 2030 to increase the natural gas storage capacity at the facilities in Sarmasel, Ghercesti, Bilciuresti and Balaceanca. A new storage facility will be built near Falticeni, Moldova. The aim is that in seven years' time Romania will be able to store more than 4 billion cu m of gas. This will require an investment of around EUR 475 million, Digi24 said.