Romania's Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja and his Serbian counterpart Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding on a gas interconnector construction project between Romania and Serbia, Burduja reported in a social media post on Monday.

"This strategic project will connect the natural gas transmission system in Serbia, through the Mokrin technological node, with the BRUA line in Romania, opening new opportunities for diversifying energy sources and increasing the competitiveness of gas prices. The Arad-Mokrin interconnector will play an essential role in energy security and regional integration of energy markets. We want to start construction next year, so that this project becomes a reality by 2028 at the latest," Burduja said.

He added that this investment will offer Romania two benefits for all Romanians: a more competitive market, which will bring the lowest price to consumers, energy security, de-insulation of energy systems and diversification of supply sources.

"At the same time, we are working closely with Serbia for the development of electricity interconnections, and the Resita-Pancevo strategic project is advancing through Transelectrica's efforts. At the end of this year, circuit 2 will be ready, and in the first part of 2025 the entire project will be finished, including circuit 1. This partnership with a reliable historical ally, makes sure that Romania fully pledges to act as a key player in the region, with a strong, competitive, stable and future-oriented energy sector."

In Romania, the natural gas transmission pipeline will be coupled to the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria (BRUA) pipeline (Petrovaselo, Timis County) about 86 km long (the border between Romania and Serbia - Comlosu Mare, Timis County), according to data released by the Ministry of Energy. In Romani, the pipeline runs through Recas, Lenauheim, Remetea Mare, Giarmata, Pischia, Sanandrei, Ortisoara, Satchinez, Biled, Sandra, Gottlob, Comlosu Mare, designed to ensure the bidirectional flow of a gas flow of at least 1.6 billion Smc/year (183,000 Smc/h).

Romania and Serbia will make every effort to start the actual construction next year, with the investment project being estimated to be completed by 2028.

Burduja also said that in Q1 2024, Romania provided almost 30% of the gas production of the entire European Union. "The national company Romgaz continues to have big plans: Neptun Deep, the EUR 4 billion investment in the Black Sea, will double the production of Romanian gas from 2027; and in Caragele they are drilling more than ever, with an investment programme in excess of RON 1 billion."

According to Burduja, Romania has all the assets to be an energy hub in the gas market and a pillar of stability for neighbouring countries. "Transgaz is working incessantly for the completion of BRUA - the Black Sea line at the Western border, the Tuzla-Podisor segment is the last one missing, and works there are advanced - and on making operational the Vertical Corridor, an alternative to Russian gas for the entire region." AGERPRES (RO - author: Cristian Anghelache, editor: Andreea Marinescu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Cristina Zaharia)