Energy Minister Virgil Popescu: “Romania is ready to join efforts to develop the Southern Gas Corridor project”

Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu participated today in the eighth Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor. This is Romania’s fifth participation in this annual event in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

During the intervention, the Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu conveyed to the members of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor the constant support of Romania for this project and for its expansion plans.

“Romania reiterates the concrete proposal to include the transport infrastructure offered by the Romania-Bulgaria Interconnector and the BRUA gas pipeline in the plan to extend the Southern Gas Corridor to the Balkans and Central Europe. We look forward to the positive assessment of this proposal, as well as the initiation of discussions between all stakeholders as soon as possible on the options offered by this regional transport infrastructure. The growing interest of many states in the region in accessing volumes of Azerbaijani gas is a huge opportunity for the future development of the Southern Gas Corridor not to be missed. Romania is ready to join the development efforts of the Southern Gas Corridor project, a strategic gas transport infrastructure necessary for the stability of Europe’s energy security. At the same time, I also conveyed that Romania supports, as a member state, the increase of the quantities of Azerbaijani gases imported in Europe as part of the process of diversification of gas sources at European level, said the Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the most complex energy projects, involving the collaboration of seven countries and 11 energy companies, resulting in a 3,500-kilometer gas transmission system that has opened a new gas supply route for Europe.

Secretary of State George Niculescu, as well as representatives of Romgaz and OMV Petrom also attended the Meeting of the Advisory Board of the Southern Gas Corridor.