Romanian natural gas transmission system operator Transgaz started the incremental capacity process for an entry point in Tuzla, in Constanta county.
The statement from the operator said that the conclusion of capacity booking contracts and firm commitments before starting the actual investment provides the guarantee that the new capacities are to be used efficiently and that the project implementation will not lead to the increase in the transmission tariff in Romania.
Transgaz carried out an incremental capacity process for an entry/exit point in Tuzla in 2018, which was completed with allocation of capacity and the company concluded transmission contracts for a period of 16 years. However, contracts were terminated and participants paid penalties.
Transgaz said earlier it received a request for incremental capacity for an entry/exit point to/ from the national gas transmission system, expected to be created in the area of Tuzla in Constanta county, with the aim of transporting natural gas which is to be extracted from the Black Sea.
Last month, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that OMV Petrom should start with the exploitation of gas resources at the Black Sea Neptun Deep project as soon as possible, adding that the current version of the Offshore Law is vary favorable for investors, adding that the Neptun Deep projects is of strategic importance for Romania.
This statement could be interpreted that OMV Petrom could not expect any more amendments to recently revised Offshore Law. The law was previously heavily criticized by the company as the main obstacle for investing in hydrocarbon exploration in the country.
In September, OMV Petrom’s CEO Christina Verchere said that the company will need at least another 12 months to make the decision.
On 1 August, state-owned Romgaz has officially completed the takeover of all shares of ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary that held 50 % stake in the Black Sea Neptun Deep gas project in an acquisition worth 1.06 billion dollars.
