Romanian energy minister: Plans to expand SGC are of particular importance

Romania has been a strong supporter of the Southern Gas Corridor project from the very beginning. The Southern Gas Corridor already has a significant impact in terms of security of Europe's gas supply, Romanian Minister of Energy Virgil-Daniel Popescu told Report.

It is already Romania’s fifth participation in the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor Meeting, which is organized annually in Baku, he noted.

“Romania is interested to be part in the efforts aiming to implement the second phase of development of the Southern Gas Corridor and reiterates on the occasion of the Eight Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor Meeting the concrete proposal to include the transport infrastructure offered by the Interconnector between Romania and Bulgaria and the BRUA gas pipeline in the plan to expand the Southern Gas Corridor towards the Balkans and Central Europe,” he added.

“Plans to expand the Southern Gas Corridor are of particular importance, as new gas suppliers are needed for the Balkan and south-eastern European countries, which are still dependent on a single supplier. These development plans must capitalize on the opportunities and needs of the European gas market as soon as possible, given the clear direction set by the European Union for the energy sector, with a view to limiting the use of fossil fuels to achieve a low-carbon economy,” he said.

“We are convinced that this proposal is in line with the development strategy of the Southern Gas Corridor and we desire for a positive assessment, as well as support and openness for the start of discussions in the near future between all the stakeholders on the options that the Interconnector between Romania and Bulgaria and the BRUA gas pipeline could provide them,” the minister noted.