Latest news with #Romgaz
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Greenpeace in court: Romania takes aim at environmental NGOs
AI- Generated Image The Romanian government is on the offensive against critical voices from civil society. In an unprecedented move, the state-owned energy company Romgaz has filed a lawsuit against Greenpeace Romania, arguing that the nongovernmental organization be disbanded. Romgaz is 70% owned by the Romanian state and the lawsuit is supported by the Energy Ministry. The lawsuit is part of a growing trend, said Romanian political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu. "Several environmental and human‑rights NGOs have faced increased scrutiny — whether through sudden inspections, burdensome reporting requirements or public rhetoric that questions their legitimacy. While each case has its own specifics, taken together they reveal a pattern of pressure that can discourage robust civic engagement," he said. Natural gas in the Black Sea This escalation is the latest chapter in a debate that has been going on for some time. Observers say it has its roots in the huge natural gas deposits in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania. Romgaz, along with the Austrian company OMV, want to extract this natural gas, which amounts to around 100 billion cubic meters (3.5 trillion cubic feet), enough to make Romania the largest natural gas producer in the EU. The government is hoping for energy independence and earnings in the billions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Production is due to start in 2027 and while investors have rejoiced, environmentalists are horrified. Critics, in particular Greenpeace, have said the venture will torpedo the European Union's climate targets. The Romanian branch of the NGO is organizing protests and taking legal action against the project. Several lawsuits have been filed in court. In January, Greenpeace lost a case and was ordered to pay court costs of around €30,000 ($34,200) each to OMV and Romgaz. In May, Greenpeace lost another case and now has to pay around €16,000 in court costs to the companies. However, the NGO never received a demand for payment from the energy firms, said Greenpeace. Instead, Romgaz commissioned a bailiff, who stated that Greenpeace was insolvent. "It's absurd. Of course we can pay the costs," said Mihnea Matache, spokesperson for Greenpeace Romania. The accusation is closely linked to a discovery that Romgaz claims to have made, namely that there are two different organizations with the name Greenpeace, with two different tax numbers. Romgaz has accused Greenpeace of using these different organizations as a cover to sidestep fines. In the light of this complaint, Romgaz is seeking to have Greenpeace dissolved. A 'classic intimidation lawsuit' Greenpeace has called the accusations laughable. Yes, Greenpeace has two tax numbers, said Matache, one for national and one for international affairs. "That's quite normal," he added. He doesn't believe the lawsuit will be successful. "They just want to unsettle our supporters, exhaust our resources, tire us out and intimidate us." Political scientist Pirvulescu agrees. "The lawsuit seems more like retaliation against their activism and public communication than a legitimate legal claim," he told DW. In his view, it's a classic intimidation lawsuit. This type of lawsuit is known by the abbreviation SLAPP, which stands for "strategic lawsuit against public participation." The goal is to dissuade civil organizations from seeking legal recourse or operating in the public sphere altogether, by using steep compensation claims and lengthy court proceedings to place them under immense financial and emotional strain. Energy minister accuses Greenpeace of 'fraudulent business practices' The natural gas extraction project off the coast of Romania goes by the name Neptun Deep, and is considered one of the country's most important projects by Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. When asked by DW, the Energy Ministry said it had nothing to do with Romgaz's lawsuit against Greenpeace, but emphasized how crucial Neptun Deep is for the Romanian economy. On Facebook, Burduja has congratulated Romgaz on the lawsuit and accused Greenpeace of "fraudulent business practices." Burduja recently piled pressure on environmental NGOs. Back in March, he called on company CEOs to sue environmental NGOs that filed lawsuits, and stated this constituted an act of "energy patriotism." In response, over 100 environmental organizations wrote an open letter demanding Burduja's resignation The ministry, for its part, has said it is defending the country's economic interests, rejecting accusations of trying to silence civil society. "We believe that [NGOs] do play and should play an important role in the social and public life of a country," it stated. "If the NGOs concerned have not acted abusively or unlawfully, they have nothing to fear." In 2021, three environmental NGOs were summoned to a parliamentary inquiry. A commission was tasked with investigating whether energy prices had risen so sharply because the environmental organizations had prevented the construction of lignite and hydroelectric power plants. The NGOs criticized this move, saying it soured their public reputation and turned them into scapegoats. The UN's special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, intervened in 2024 and expressed serious concern to the Romanian state about a "campaign of harassment and intimidation." Hefty legal costs, alleged ties to Russia "They want to intimidate us — and they are succeeding. We are now thinking twice about suing Romgaz," said Vlad Catuna, Greenpeace's campaign manager for the Neptun Deep issue. In part, they are worried about the hefty legal costs facing NGOs if they lose. In the previous lawsuit, Romgaz and OMV had originally demanded a total compensation of €250,000, making the five-figure final settlement appear paltry by comparison. And it's not just in court that the Energy Ministry is challenging environmental NGOs. The minister and state-affiliated media have repeatedly suggested that Greenpeace and other environmental organizations have links to Russia. They claim the Russian state wants to prevent Romania from extracting gas in a bid to make the nation more dependent on Russian gas. Matache and Catuna reject these accusations. Greenpeace has been banned in Russia as an "undesirable organization" since 2023. But accusations such as these still leave a bitter aftertaste and dent the organization's standing with the public.
DW
7 hours ago
- Business
- DW
Greenpeace in court: Romania takes aim at environmental NGOs – DW – 06/10/2025
Greenpeace Romania faces legal action from the state gas firm Romgaz, which wants the environmental group shut down. Critics warn this is the latest in a string of attacks on civil society groups. The Romanian government is on the offensive against critical voices from civil society. In an unprecedented move, the state-owned energy company Romgaz has filed a lawsuit against Greenpeace Romania, arguing that the nongovernmental organization be disbanded. Romgaz is 70% owned by the Romanian state and the lawsuit is supported by the Energy Ministry. The lawsuit is part of a growing trend, said Romanian political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu. "Several environmental and human rights NGOs have come under increased scrutiny — be it through unforeseen inspections, extensive reporting obligations or public questioning of their legitimacy. Taken together, this is systematic pressure that can discourage robust civic engagement," he said. Natural gas in the Black Sea This escalation is the latest chapter in a debate that has been going on for some time. Observers say it has its roots in the huge natural gas deposits in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania. Romgaz, along with the Austrian company OMV, want to extract this natural gas, which amounts to around 100 billion cubic meters (3.5 trillion cubic feet), enough to make Romania the largest natural gas producer in the EU. The government is hoping for energy independence and earnings in the billions. Production is due to start in 2027 and while investors have rejoiced, environmentalists are horrified. Critics, in particular Greenpeace, have said the venture will torpedo the European Union's climate targets. The Romanian branch of the NGO is organizing protests and taking legal action against the project. Several lawsuits have been filed in court. In January, Greenpeace lost a case and was ordered to pay court costs of around €30,000 ($34,200) each to OMV and Romgaz. In May, Greenpeace lost another case and now has to pay around €16,000 in court costs to the companies. However, the NGO never received a demand for payment from the energy firms, said Greenpeace. Instead, Romgaz commissioned a bailiff, who stated that Greenpeace was insolvent. How does natural gas harm the environment? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "It's absurd. Of course we can pay the costs," said Mihnea Matache, spokesperson for Greenpeace Romania. The accusation is closely linked to a discovery that Romgaz claims to have made, namely that there are two different organizations with the name Greenpeace, with two different tax numbers. Romgaz has accused Greenpeace of using these different organizations as a cover to sidestep fines. In the light of this complaint, Romgaz is seeking to have Greenpeace dissolved. A 'classic intimidation lawsuit' Greenpeace has called the accusations laughable. Yes, Greenpeace has two tax numbers, said Matache, one for national and one for international affairs. "That's quite normal," he added. He doesn't believe the lawsuit will be successful. "They just want to unsettle our supporters, exhaust our resources, tire us out and intimidate us." Political scientist Pirvulescu agrees. "The lawsuit seems more like retaliation against their activism and public communication than a legitimate legal claim," he told DW. In his view, it's a classic intimidation lawsuit. This type of lawsuit is known by the abbreviation SLAPP, which stands for "strategic lawsuit against public participation." The goal is to dissuade civil organizations from seeking legal recourse or operating in the public sphere altogether, by using steep compensation claims and lengthy court proceedings to place them under immense financial and emotional strain. Greenpeace faces large fine for US pipeline protests To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Energy minister accuses Greenpeace of 'fraudulent business practices' The natural gas extraction project off the coast of Romania goes by the name Neptun Deep, and is considered one of the country's most important projects by Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. When asked by DW, the Energy Ministry said it had nothing to do with Romgaz's lawsuit against Greenpeace, but emphasized how crucial Neptun Deep is for the Romanian economy. On Facebook, Burduja has congratulated Romgaz on the lawsuit and accused Greenpeace of "fraudulent business practices." Burduja recently piled pressure on environmental NGOs. Back in March, he called on company CEOs to sue environmental NGOs that filed lawsuits, and stated this constituted an act of "energy patriotism." In response, over 100 environmental organizations wrote an open letter demanding Burduja's resignation. The ministry, for its part, has said it is defending the country's economic interests, rejecting accusations of trying to silence civil society. "We believe that [NGOs] do play and should play an important role in the social and public life of a country," it stated. "If the NGOs concerned have not acted abusively or unlawfully, they have nothing to fear." Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja has backed Romgaz on social media for its legal action against Greenpeace Image: Zoltan Balogh/MTI/AP Photo/picture alliance In 2021, three environmental NGOs were summoned to a parliamentary inquiry. A commission was tasked with investigating whether energy prices had risen so sharply because the environmental organizations had prevented the construction of lignite and hydroelectric power plants. The NGOs criticized this move, saying it soured their public reputation and turned them into scapegoats. The UN's special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, intervened in 2024 and expressed serious concern to the Romanian state about a "campaign of harassment and intimidation." Hefty legal costs and alleged ties to Russia "They want to intimidate us — and they are succeeding. We are now thinking twice about suing Romgaz," said Vlad Catuna, Greenpeace's campaign manager for the Neptun Deep issue. In part, they are worried about the hefty legal costs facing NGOs if they lose. In the previous lawsuit, Romgaz and OMV had originally demanded a total compensation of €250,000, making the five-figure final settlement appear paltry by comparison. And it's not just in court that the Energy Ministry is challenging environmental NGOs. The minister and state-affiliated media have repeatedly suggested that Greenpeace and other environmental organizations have links to Russia. They claim the Russian state wants to prevent Romania from extracting gas in a bid to make the nation more dependent on Russian gas. Matache and Catuna reject these accusations. Greenpeace has been banned in Russia as an "undesirable organization" since 2023. But accusations such as these still leave a bitter aftertaste and dent the organization's standing with the public. This article was originally written in German.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OMV Petrom secures gas supply deal with Moldova
Romania's OMV Petrom has signed a pivotal gas supply agreement with Moldova, ensuring a quarter of the latter's annual gas requirements, reported Reuters, citing a top Moldovan energy official. This move is set to bolster Moldova's energy security amidst efforts to reduce reliance on Russian gas. Deliveries from the significant Black Sea Neptun Deep project are expected to commence in 2027. OMV Petrom and state-owned Romgaz are the joint stakeholders in the project. The deal is a significant step for Moldova, particularly in light of its historical dependence on Russian gas and the geopolitical shifts following the conflict in Ukraine. Romania's Energy Ministry has confirmed the three-year contract, which taps into the Neptun Deep gas field, estimated to hold around 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of recoverable gas. Moldovagaz CEO Vadim Ceban was quoted by the new agency as saying: 'In a situation where Moldova's relations with Russia's Gazprom have broken down, obtaining gas directly from Neptun Deep increases the reliability of Moldova's natural gas supply.' He also noted that the agreement would satisfy 25% of Moldova's total gas demand, currently at around 3.2bcm annually. The energy crisis in Moldova's Transdniestria region has escalated since Gazprom halted gas supplies following the Ukraine invasion. The OMV Petrom deal is thus seen as a crucial step in mitigating these supply issues. Romania's Energy Ministry highlighted that the contract with Moldova's Energocom represents less than 1% of Neptun Deep's estimated reserves. Neptun Deep stands as Romania's largest energy venture in nearly two decades and is expected to double the country's gas output, potentially making it a net exporter. In addition to supplying Moldova, OMV Petrom has also secured a five-year contract to provide Germany's Uniper with 15 terawatt-hours of gas from Neptun Deep. Both OMV Petrom and Romgaz are set to market the gas independently, although Romanian legislation grants the government pre-emptive rights to the project's gas under certain conditions. The recent commencement of drilling at Neptun Deep marks a milestone for Romania, with the Pelican South and Domino fields of the Neptun block in the Black Sea poised to significantly enhance the nation's gas production. The Neptun Deep project is not only Romania's first deep-water offshore endeavour but also the largest natural gas project in the Romanian Black Sea. It is projected to contribute approximately 8bcm annually to the country's gas production once it reaches full capacity. "OMV Petrom secures gas supply deal with Moldova" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
25-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Drilling starts on Romanian Black Sea offshore gas project that challenges Russia
Summary Companies Offshore project to double Romanian gas production from 2027 Romanian gas consumption seen up 25% per year to 2030 But analyst still expects small exportable surplus BUCHAREST, March 25 (Reuters) - Drilling at Romania's Neptun Deep offshore gas project began in the Black Sea on Sunday, its owners said on Tuesday, putting one of the EU's largest gas deposits on track for production in 2027 that could help ease the shift from Russian gas. Jointly owned by oil and gas group OMV Petrom ( opens new tab and Romania's state-owned Romgaz ( opens new tab, Neptun Deep holds an estimated 100 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas. OMV Petrom is majority-controlled by Austria's OMV ( opens new tab. Neptun Deep will double Romania's gas production and likely turn it into a net exporter, the energy ministry has said, at a time when the European Union is weaning itself off Russian gas. While the project could help diversify gas supply in central and eastern Europe, it is unclear how much of the new gas will be available for export as Romania's domestic consumption is set to increase while its onshore reserves fall. Romania produces a little over 9 billion cubic metres per year currently and its consumption is just under 10 billion. But consumption will rise as 3.5 gigawatts-worth of gas-fired power plants are expected to come online by 2030 and phase out coal. The energy ministry estimates annual gas consumption will rise by 25% on average during 2025-2030 from 2023 levels, Sorin Elisei, a general director at the ministry in charge of energy strategy, told Reuters. "On the other hand, we estimate a rise of at least 75% of domestic production from 2027, meaning there will be quantities available for exports, meeting a strategic objective of Romania becoming a provider of energy security in the region," he said. Eugenia Gusilov, an energy analyst at Romania Energy Center, said the local market could not absorb all the expected new gas, adding the potential export surplus could be "at least four billion cubic metres, if not five." "These are not big volumes, but any billion cubic metre of gas matters to efforts to diversify supply in this part of Europe."
Reuters
27-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Romanian government extends energy price caps
BUCHAREST, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Romania's coalition government will extend a price cap on electricity for households and businesses until June and on gas for a year, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday, to shield consumers from a recent surge in energy costs. Romania has been capping gas and power bills for households, small businesses, hospitals, schools and public institutions up to certain monthly consumption levels and compensating suppliers for the difference since November 2021. The scheme has been modified several times and was due to expire at the end of March. Suppliers have repeatedly complained about delayed government payments and observers have warned market distortions will be difficult to redress. "We will approve today continuing the energy price cap," Ciolacu said at the start of a government meeting. "For electricity until end-June and until then we will introduce measures to increase market volumes so that prices remain low. For gas we will keep the cap for another year to rebuild our stored reserves for next winter at manageable prices." Romania uses a mix of gas, coal, hydro, nuclear and renewables for electricity generation and has committed to phasing out lignite, or brown coal, although the energy ministry is currently seeking an extension. The country produces almost all the gas it consumes locally through producers OMV Petrom ( opens new tab, state-owned Romgaz ( opens new tab and offshore producer Black Sea Oil & Gas (BSOG).
