Romania amends electricity-gas law

The Romanian government has amended Electricity and Gas Law 123/2012 through an emergency ordinance published in the Romanian Official Gazette on 1 July 2020.

As a result of the ordinance, the main changes in the natural gas sector include a gas-release programme applicable between 1 July and 31 December 2022, which is intended to replace the previous centralised market trading obligation whereby all market participants were bound to conclude gas contracts (for a set quota) on centralised platforms, such as the Romanian Gas and electricity Market Operator (OPOCM) and the Romanian Exchange Market (BRM).

The new obligations apply to all wholesale gas market participants, both for purchasing and selling, and include the following:

On 1 July 2020, ANRE published two draft orders, currently under public consultation, which regulate obligations for making offers on the centralised market. The draft orders provideall wholesale market participants witha mandatory offering quota of 40%.

According to the obligation, an offer should not result in a concluded contract unless a transaction is actually performed on the platform (i.e. the offer has been accepted). The regulations include standard offering products (i.e. monthly, quarterly, half-year, seasonal and annual) and the provision of details on the transaction process.

Further to the full liberalisation of the gas market in July 2020, the government has also decided to eliminate the gas storage obligation applicable to natural gas suppliers. (This obligation will be applicable only in the "gas year" 2020 to 2021).

Additional provisions have been included to relax supply conditions so that suppliers are no longer restricted to physical selling points. (Previously, supplies were limited to a 50 km area around their physical location). As a result, suppliers can sell via virtual trading points, which they are able to establish under certain conditions.