Domestic production of natural gas is expected to exceed Romania's consumption demand once it reaches the plateau level of production in the Neptun Deep block in the Black Sea, estimated at approximately 8 billion cubic metres annually, to which about 8 billion cubic metres of onshore deposits are added, Aristotel Jude, member on the Board of Directors of Romgaz, said on Monday at a conference on the challenges of winter 2026 - 2027 for the national energy system.

'To us, it is essential that in the first half of the year, as we have been announced, the production of Neptun Deep begins. From my point of view, Romania will return to a natural gas production from the period '98-2000. If we have an average consumption of 11 billion cubic metres, the production in Neptun Deep will be around 8 billion cubic metres during the plateau period, and the production now provided by the onshore reservoirs of natural gas producers is about 8 billion cubic metres, which means that the domestic production of natural gas from onshore and offshore reservoirs will exceed Romania's natural gas consumption,' said Aristotel Jude at the Focus Energetic conference.

He added that Romgaz aims to capitalise on natural gas both by selling it and by using it for the production of electricity and in industrial processes.

'Romgaz, by diversifying its portfolio, has shown that, first of all, natural gas should not necessarily be sold in the form in which it is extracted but should be allocated where it is of greatest value. That is why we ask ourselves and we have always asked ourselves what to do with this natural gas given that it should be used in the best form, that is in a superior value chain. In other words, we will sell natural gas in the form in which it is extracted, we will use it at the same time in the production of electricity and we will integrate it into industrial processes.'

Jude mentioned the Azomures chemicals platform and the activities necessary to put it into production.

'I would like you to see the recent acquisition of the Azomures platform, which, at the moment, is integrated with Romgaz. We are focusing on activities necessary and useful for the production of Azomures (...) We are interested in natural gas being used as much as possible as an industrial raw material. As far as Azomures is concerned, we are talking about gas, ammonia, fertilisers, agriculture and we are passing by the pillar of ensuring energy security from the perspective of natural gas to become a pillar for food security through the products we will have at Azomures.

About the preparations for the winter season, the Romgaz official showed that Romgaz's main priority is to keep up an adequate level of natural gas production.

'Romgaz's main priority for the current winter is to keep up an adequate level of natural gas production given that, as you well know, we are under the empire of Ordinance 12/2026, which stipulates the supply of natural gas at a subsidised price of RON 110 to the supplier of the household user and the producer of steam for the population. Of Romgaz's natural gas production from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, approximately 70% is allocated to the supplier of the household users and the producers of thermal energy at the price of RON 110 per megawatt-hour,' said Jude.

He added that Romgaz has carried out the annual revisions of the equipment and continues investments to keep up its production output.

'We have secured the service contracts necessary for the repair works and interventions at the well, we have carried out these works, we have secured the contracts for spare parts, oils, fuel, valves and so on. We are focusing on the introduction into operation of new wells, the continuation of rehabilitation projects, given that Romgaz's deposits are mature. We have been taking measures to optimise the production of natural gas in rehabilitation projects and we are focused on keeping infrastructure at a maximum production level.'

As far as investments are concerned, Jude showed that Romgaz has annual investment programmes of over RON5 billion and that a degree of achievement of over 80% is a success for the company.

'The key to success is the realisation of investments, and from our point of view Romgaz has been a champion of investments. If we refer to investment programmes of over RON 5 billion annually, a percentage of these investments of over 80% in our opinion is a success, given that we are a state-owned company that has much more drastic corporate regulations than privately-owned companies,' said Jude.

The publication Focus Energetic, in partnership with the Committee on Industries and Services of the Chamber of Deputies, organised on Monday the 14th conference of the cycle dedicated to winter preparations themed 'The challenges of winter 2026 - 2027 for the national energy system'. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)