Romania and Azerbaijan can jointly participate in projects related to the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and the creation of a "green bridge" between the Caspian and Black Seas, Romanian Energy Minister Virgil Daniel Popescu told Report.
Popescu added that negotiations are underway with Baku on the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Romania:
"We want to be one of the beneficiaries of Azerbaijani gas, and negotiations are underway. As the talks have not been completed, it is not possible to disclose any information on the terms and conditions."
According to the minister, Romania is also interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of "green energy":
"We can work to establish a renewable energy link between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania and deliver this 'green energy' to Europe."
The Romanian minister also touched upon the Baku Energy Week held last week and the speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the official opening of the 27th International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition within the Baku Energy Week: "It was a wonderful event, and after three years, because of the pandemic, we had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from the Balkans and Azerbaijan. I met with my colleagues from Turkiye, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. I think it's a great event in terms of sharing ideas. President Ilham Aliyev delivered a message at the opening of the exhibition. I support his views on the energy sector."
Azerbaijani natural gas is expected to be transported to Romania via the BRUA (Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria) pipeline.
BRUA will transport 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Hungary and 1.5 billion cubic meters to Bulgaria.
The total cost of the 1,318-kilometer gas pipeline in Romania is 480 million euros. The European Union has provided a loan of 179 million euros and the European Investment Bank 50 million euros for the pipeline's construction. Transgaz has spent 149 million euros on the project.