Romanian Cap City Not Affected By Gas Cut

Ramba said that government representatives gave assurance that household consumers will not be affected by this situation, and, although fuel oil is more expensive than gas, it will bring no changes to heating bills.

RADET representative said that, in his opinion, this situation would not last too long, as thermal plants used fuel oil before, but only for short periods.

All Russian gas supplies to Romania were halted Wednesday morning, after deliveries were cut at Mediesu Aurit gas import station at around GMT0700. Gas supplies via the other gas import station, Isaccea, were cut Tuesday morning.

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu called an urgent meeting with the representatives of the National Energy Authority ANRE, oil company Petrom, gas pipeline operator Transgaz and gas distributor Distrigaz, for talks on the issue.

Authorities proposed Tuesday that thermal power plants should reduce their consumption and switch to alternative fuels, such as coal or fuel oil in order to cover the gas deficit.

Romania’s state-owned electricity producer Termoelectrica said at least 50-60% of its power production units might switch to fuel oil, in order to compensate the 75% drop in Russian gas imports, under the condition of observing the environment norms stipulating a sulfur content below 1% for this type of fuel.

At the same time, power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti ELCEN, the electricity and thermal power producer of Bucharest, may use fuel oil for part of its units, but it might face problems at buying this type of fuel, due to the lack of funds, as it has to recover EUR450 million debts from RADET.