Romania’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has strongly denied recent accusations that the country exports natural gas to Austria at discounted rates, allegedly disadvantaging Romanian consumers. In a public statement, ANRE rejected what it called misleading claims made by certain political figures, emphasizing that such narratives contradict Romania’s economic interests and energy security goals.
According to ANRE, Romania does not subsidize natural gas exports, and pricing is determined by market conditions rather than government-imposed transport tariffs. The authority clarified that transport fees are consistent at both domestic and border interconnection points. The claims of a 40 percent tariff reduction relate only to interruptible transport services—a type of capacity with inherent limitations, such as potential unavailability during peak infrastructure usage, which justifies a different, lower pricing structure compared to firm services.
ANRE also stressed that all cross-border gas sales are governed by commercial agreements and that the financial benefits of these transactions go to Romanian gas producers and transport companies—not to foreign governments. There is no mechanism in place that would allow gas to be exported at subsidized prices, nor are Romanian consumers responsible for covering any costs related to exports. In fact, the revenue generated from cross-border transport contributes to the operational costs of Romania’s gas transmission network, which helps ease financial pressure on domestic tariffs.
The regulator dismissed the notion that Romanian consumers are being unfairly burdened to the advantage of Austrian buyers, labeling such suggestions as politically motivated and not grounded in fact. ANRE highlighted Romania’s significant role in promoting European energy security, noting the country’s support for regional stability through projects like the Vertical Corridor—an energy route connecting Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
In line with these efforts, ANRE also confirmed that Transgaz, Romania’s gas transmission system operator, is preparing to allocate bundled transport capacity to Ukraine. This move is expected to strengthen regional energy cooperation and reinforce Romania’s position as a key player in the European energy landscape.
