Engie, a major player in natural gas distribution and a growing force in renewable electricity production in Romania, is eyeing the potential acquisition of an electricity distribution company in the country, should the opportunity arise.
Engie Romania CEO Nicolad Richard highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Romania since 2005, when it acquired Distrigaz, a gas distributor and supplier. Today, Engie serves over 2.4 million natural gas and electricity customers, with 800,000 utilizing its energy services and solutions for both residential and industrial needs.
Richard emphasized Romania’s strategic importance to Engie. The company is committed to investing in increasingly green gas solutions, particularly in biomethane, and is also focused on expanding its electricity operations. Engie’s interest in acquiring an electricity distribution business aligns with its broader growth strategy in the region.
In contrast, the Australian investment group Macquarie, which entered the Romanian market by purchasing CEZ’s assets—including renewable energy production, electricity supply, and distribution companies—seems to be shifting its strategy. Macquarie’s acquisition, valued at €1.1 billion, included the Fantanele-Cogealac wind farm, CEZ Romania, and Distributie Energie Oltenia, among other assets.
Recently, Macquarie sold its electricity supply company to Premier Energy, a move that predated Engie’s own acquisition interest. Furthermore, Macquarie recently offloaded its entire renewable energy portfolio in Romania, totaling 629 MW, to Greek utility PPC for approximately €700 million. Currently, Macquarie retains only the electricity distribution business in Oltenia from its original CEZ purchase. The future of this remaining asset is yet to be determined.
Engie Romania operates across multiple sectors, including natural gas distribution and supply, renewable energy production, and electricity supply. The company boasts a distribution network of 23,255 kilometers, a renewable energy capacity of 211 MW, and a workforce of over 4,300 employees, serving a customer base of over 2 million.
