Romanian State Exercises Preemption Right to Secure 5 bcm of Neptun Deep Gas

The Romanian Administration of State Reserves and Special Problems (ANRSPS) exercised, for the first time, its legal pre‑emptive right to acquire up to five billion cubic metres of natural gas from the Neptun Deep offshore field. The field, operated equally by OMV Petrom and Romgaz, is expected to start production in 2027, with the state‑purchased volumes to be taken from 2028 over a seven‑year period.

The move is presented as a strategic step to reinforce national energy security, ensuring a baseline of domestic supply and storage capacity. It follows earlier negotiations involving the Hungarian energy group MVM, which were halted on security grounds. The state’s action relies on Law No. 256/2018 and the offshore legislative framework.

The volume represents roughly one per cent of the field’s projected output. Market reaction was modest, with OMV Petrom shares rising about 0.6 % after the announcement. Investors have called for clearer details on the financing terms, warning that insufficient transparency could affect capital confidence. OMV Petrom’s CEO Christina Verchere has noted that the acquisition helps position Romania as a leading natural‑gas producer within the EU.