OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in southeastern Europe, is expanding its natural gas supply activities in the Bulgarian market, effective October. Industrial consumers in Bulgaria will now have access to OMV Petrom’s offerings.
Franck Neel, an Executive Board Member responsible for Gas and Power at OMV Petrom, highlighted the company’s growth over the past two years, particularly in Romania, and noted that expanding into Bulgaria is a natural progression. This move is facilitated by OMV’s existing presence in Bulgaria, including a network of OMV petrol stations and exploration operations in the Black Sea.
By entering the Bulgarian gas supply market, OMV Petrom aims to leverage its experience as a leading supplier for non-domestic customers in Romania, alongside its existing wholesale gas activities in Bulgaria.
OMV Petrom operates across the entire natural gas value chain, from production and processing to marketing and supply. In 2023, the company emerged as Romania’s second-largest natural gas producer, with a production volume of 3.3 billion cubic meters. Through its own production and various supply contracts, OMV Petrom covered about 40% of Romania’s gas consumption in the same year.
The company holds a 50% stake in and serves as the operator of the Neptun Deep project, which is the largest natural gas resource in the EU, estimated to produce around 100 billion cubic meters. Production from Neptun Deep is anticipated to commence in 2027.
In Bulgaria, OMV Petrom operates through its network of OMV-branded filling stations and holds the exploration license for the Khan Asparuh perimeter in the Black Sea, where it is also the operator.
As the leading integrated energy producer in southeastern Europe, OMV Petrom reported an annual Group hydrocarbon production of approximately 41 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2023. The Group also has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons per year and operates a high-efficiency gas-fired power plant with an output of 860 MW. Additionally, OMV Petrom maintains a strong retail presence in Romania and neighboring countries with about 780 petrol stations under the OMV and Petrom brands.
