Romania eyes future gas talks with Azerbaijan

Romania is looking to deepen its energy partnership with Azerbaijan, including potential future negotiations on gas supplies, as part of a broader push to enhance regional energy security through infrastructure projects and cooperation, a senior Romanian official said ahead of Baku Energy Week.

Romania hopes to initiate future talks on securing gas supplies from Azerbaijan, said Pavel-Casian Nitulescu, State Secretary of Romania’s Energy Ministry, on the eve of the Baku Energy Week scheduled for June 2–4.

Marking his first participation in the Baku Energy Forum, Nitulescu underscored the importance of regional collaboration through strategic infrastructure to strengthen joint energy security and ensure the smooth flow of energy across borders.

“Romania is involved in regional initiatives such as the Vertical Corridor and the so-called Green Corridor, which aim to open up alternative sources of gas and renewable energy,” he said. “This includes the submarine cable project linking Azerbaijan’s green resources to Georgia, Romania, and Hungary.”

The state secretary reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to regional energy security and its willingness to pursue continued cooperation with reliable partners like Azerbaijan.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Nitulescu noted, “Romania and Azerbaijan have significantly deepened their cooperation in the natural gas field over the years. I believe that future negotiations on Azerbaijani gas volumes will be led by interested companies from both countries.”

Gas, he emphasized, remains a strategic resource in Romania’s energy mix. Despite its low reliance on gas imports due to substantial domestic production, Romania is still seeking diversification to bolster regional supply security.

Expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor

Nitulescu called for renewed dialogue on expanding the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), a vital supply route for the region.

“The SGC is critical as an alternative source of gas, particularly for the Balkans and South-Eastern Europe. Romania supports its expansion through adequate investment and infrastructure development, which are essential for accessing new supply sources,” he said.

He also referenced Romania’s involvement in regional energy projects such as the BRUA pipeline, the Iași-Ungheni-Chișinău pipeline connecting to Moldova, and the Trans-Balkan Corridor — all aimed at reinforcing regional interconnectivity and supply stability.

The upcoming Neptun Deep gas project in the Black Sea, expected to begin production in 2027, will further enhance Romania’s energy position. “It will make Romania the largest natural gas producer in the EU,” Nitulescu stated.

Future cooperation with SOCAR

Nitulescu also signaled interest in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, which is already a major player in Romania’s fuel market.

“SOCAR’s investments are of strategic, economic, and social importance. They have diversified the Romanian energy market and created hundreds of jobs,” he said. “We would be pleased to receive new proposals from SOCAR for future investments in our country.”

He concluded by stressing that SOCAR’s expansion in Romania reflects the country’s attractiveness as an energy investment destination and a reliable regional partner.

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