Transgaz wins final court ruling on Tuzla-Podișor gas pipeline

The High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) has issued a final ruling regarding the construction permit for the Tuzla-Podișor gas pipeline, rejecting appeals from both Transgaz and the environmental organization Bankwatch Romania. The court upheld a previous decision from the Cluj Court of Appeal, which had dismissed the claims because the legal right to take action had expired.

The Tuzla-Podișor project is a strategic infrastructure investment valued at over 500 million euros. Spanning approximately 308 kilometers, the pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from the Neptun Deep field in the Black Sea to the national transport system. The pipeline is already completed and operational, with production from the Black Sea expected to begin in 2027.

While the ruling provides legal certainty for the project, the court did not rule on the underlying legality of the original environmental permit. Bankwatch had previously alleged that the 2018 authorization had expired and that environmental impact assessments were insufficient. The Romanian government has emphasized that the project is vital for national energy security and reducing import dependency.