De ce importam gaze scumpe de la rusi, in loc sa le valorificam pe ale noastre?

# Romania’s Energy Dilemma: The Challenge of Gas Imports

Source: Financiarul.ro.

## The Rising Tide of Gas Imports

In January 2019, Romania faced a significant challenge in energy management, importing a staggering 395.5 million cubic meters of natural gas-an increase of approximately 30% compared to the same month in the previous year. This trend continued into February, with imports reaching 275 million cubic meters, marking a rise of over 21% from February 2018.

## The Source of Dependence

All the natural gas imported by Romania, regardless of the companies involved or their nationalities, originates from Russia. Furthermore, the prices of these imports in the first two months of this year were about 30% higher than those from the same period in 2018.

## A Question of Resources

This raises a critical question: Why is Romania, which possesses the fourth-largest natural gas reserves in Europe-surpassed only by the UK, Norway, and the Netherlands-relying on expensive imports from Russia?

## The Underlying Issues

The answer is straightforward: despite having substantial gas reserves, Romania lacks the efficient mechanisms to utilize these resources when needed. Dumitru Chisalita, a judicial expert in natural gas, elaborated on this issue, stating, „The increase in imports during these two months can be attributed to several factors, the primary one being the government’s decision to produce more electricity from gas, necessitating a higher resource demand.”

## The Paradox of Abundance

On paper, Romania boasts significant natural gas reserves. However, these quantities, while reflected in statistics, cannot be quickly mobilized during sudden spikes in consumption. The current system is not designed for such demands, and unfortunately, no measures are being taken to adapt it to our present needs.

## A Wealthy Yet Cash-Strapped Analogy

Imagine a person owning ten houses but having very little liquid cash. While this individual is wealthy, they find themselves in a predicament when immediate cash is required to resolve an urgent issue, as they cannot easily convert their wealth into usable funds.

## The Need for a New Framework

To effectively utilize its resources, Romania must develop a new framework for gas management that includes, among other things, thermal energy storage facilities and slow-release systems.

## Changing Heating Methods

Historically, heating was primarily achieved through centralized heating systems. These systems would be charged based on weather forecasts, typically two to three days in advance of cold spells. This timeframe allowed market players to supply the necessary gas for heating systems. The discharge process also occurred gradually over several days.

However, the landscape has shifted. Heating is increasingly reliant on gas boilers and stoves, which are designed to activate quickly and provide heat within minutes or hours. Unfortunately, the current infrastructure is not equipped to deliver sufficient domestic gas at such rapid rates.

## The Import Dilemma

As demand for gas rises, it must be met somehow. If domestic sources cannot fulfill this need, imports become the only option.

## The Future of Gas Reserves

Even if new onshore gas reserves are discovered or extraction from the Black Sea begins, Romania will not escape its reliance on imports. Without a properly adapted management system, Romania-despite its reserves-will remain one of the most import-dependent countries in Europe, trailing only Bulgaria and Lithuania, as explained by Dumitru Chisalita.

Source: ziare.com