The claim disseminated in the public space by the senator of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), Petrisor Peiu, according to which Romania is supplying cheap natural gas to Austria, to the detriment of Romanian citizens, is completely unfounded, maintain the representatives of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The institution makes these clarifications in the context of 'erroneous statements recently made in the public space by certain political leaders whose statements are contrary to Romania's economic and energy security interests.'

'Romania does not subsidise gas exports. The claim that Romania would supply cheap natural gas to Austria, to the detriment of Romanian citizens, is completely unfounded. Mr. MP Petrisor Peiu claimed that the transmission tariffs applied at the Csanadpalota interconnection point [on the Hungarian border] had been allegedly reduced by 40%. This information is false. Transmission tariffs are identical for both interconnection points and internal points. The so-called '40% reduction' mentioned by Mr Peiu does not apply to standard transport, but refers exclusively to special services, applicable only under restrictive conditions - when the infrastructure is already occupied. This interruptible capacity involves the risk that the user may not be able to access it, which justifies a differentiated tariff compared to firm capacity,' the press release states..

According to the cited source, the state does not sell 'cheap' gas in Austria.

'The price of natural gas is determined by the market, not by a transport tariff set by the state. Romania does not have a 'subsidised export' mechanism. Gas reaches foreign markets, including Austria, based on commercial conditions, and the income from these transactions goes to the economic operators who extract or transport gas, not to the 'Austrian state',' the document further states.

At the same time, transmission costs for exports are not borne by the consumer. 'On the contrary, the transport capacities available for export generate revenues that contribute to covering the total costs of the system, reducing the need to increase domestic tariffs. Each MWh transported through the interconnection brings additional revenue, contributing to covering the costs of the system,' the cited source specifies.

On the other hand, statements such as 'Romanians pay more because we give cheap gas to the Austrians' are inaccurate and purely political, mentions ANRE.

'Romania is not sabotaging its own citizens, but is assuming its role as a responsible provider of regional and European energy security. Romania is consolidating its position as an important player in the region's energy security, including by supplying Ukraine through the Vertical Corridor - a strategic route linking Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Transgaz, the technical operator of the National Natural Gas Transmission System, will soon launch the procedure for allocating monthly bundled capacity to Ukraine, covering segments from all four countries mentioned above, the document also states.

AUR senator Petrisor Peiu announced on Sunday in a press release that the Romanian state, through the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), has decided that the gas transmission tariff for exports to Austria will be 40% lower than for domestic consumption in Romania. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicolets Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)