PM Emil Boc: Not one citizen will suffer because of the natural gas delivery ceasing

„Not even one citizen in Romania will suffer because of the total ceasing of natural gas deliveries from Russia at the Isaccea entry point. The Isaccea entry brings 4.7 million cubic meters of gas per day, while the national consumption is 61.5 million cubic meters. We will cover the difference out of the interior production, the already stored amounts and the ceasing of deliveries towards thermal plants, which will start producing thermal energy using alternate fuels. Not one citizen will suffer”, said Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday, after a major gas delivery company announced that entries from Russia have been stopped.

The Romanian Economy Ministry hosted on Tuesday morning an emergency meeting, after the Russian deliveries at the Isaccea entry point were completely shut down, in order to avoid losing pressure in the pipelines.

The main statements made by Emil Boc:

– Not even one citizen in Romania will suffer because of the total ceasing of natural gas deliveries from Russia;

– The Isaccea entry brings 4.7 million cubic meters of gas per day, while the national consumption is 61.5 million cubic meters;

– The situation is under control and the households will not be affected;

– There are concerns about the medium term evolution of the relations between Russia and Ukraine and about the average temperature during the next period. There shouldn’t be any problems in case the temperature remains above -15 degrees Celsius, a level where teams are prepared to intervene in order to solve any pipelines pressure problems.

– European officials were informed on Romania’s situation

Economy Minister Adriean Videanu:

– Russian gas continues to enter the country through the Meriesul Aurit entry point, with a capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters per day;

– Romania uses 61.5 million cubic meters of gas per day, out of which 33 millions come from the interior production. The population uses at most some 34 million cubic meters;

– There are enough stored reserves to ensure normal deliveries.

– Thermal plants will turn to alternate fuels, mainly crude oil;

– The Gazprom officials in Romania say that it is not Gazprom’s fault, the problems residing in the transport infrastructure. The Ukraine ambassador will also be called.