The Bucharest Court of Appeal has rejected Greenpeace’s appeal regarding the environmental permit for the Neptun Deep offshore gas project, a joint venture between Romgaz and OMV Petrom. As a result, Greenpeace is ordered to pay €30,000 in legal costs to Romgaz Black Sea Limited, OMV Petrom, and the permit-issuing body.
However, the decision is not final and may still be appealed. Greenpeace had argued that the Constanța Environmental Protection Agency wrongly issued the environmental permit, claiming that critical studies were not conducted to assess the potential risks properly. The organization raised concerns that the Neptun Deep project could harm vulnerable Black Sea species and worsen climate change impacts. Greenpeace also cited an expert analysis it commissioned, predicting that the project, driven by OMV Petrom’s fossil fuel activities, could lead to tens of thousands of premature deaths by the end of the century due to extreme temperatures exacerbated by the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project.
Located in the Romanian Black Sea, Neptun Deep is touted as Europe’s largest proposed fossil gas drilling project and is considered a strategic initiative for Romania. Proponents argue that the project will significantly enhance the country’s energy security and independence, support its energy transition, and contribute to economic growth.
