“Any new deposit, any new discovery of hydrocarbons is a plus for Romania, because this means an increase in the capacities which we can explore, this means fees, taxes and transit through Romania. So it’s a very good thing. We are eagerly waiting to see official figures because for the time being we only have estimates by the companies that conducted the drilling operations.”

Secretary of state with the Foreign Ministry, Bogdan Aurescu, also hailed the discovery of a new gas deposit in the Black Sea. Aurescu played a crucial role in the case forwarded to the International Court of Justice. In a 2009 trial versus Ukraine, Romania won a disputed area of the Black Sea continental shelf. Part of the natural gas deposit is located on the area Romania obtained following the dispute with neighboring Ukraine. Economic analysts say that, if the estimated amount of natural gas is confirmed, the industrial and social impact for Romania will be huge. Dependant to a large extent on Russian gas imports, bought at very high prices in comparison with other European states, Romania could revise its strategy, experts believe.

Romania is trying to gain independence from the Russian gas source and has consequently taken part in various projects, such as the Nabucco gas pipeline which is to convey natural gas from the Caspian sea area to Europe bypassing Russia. But due to harsh winter conditions, Romanian authorities have been obliged to increment the amount of natural gas imported from Russia. In this context, the recent record-high domestic gas consumption and the big question marks related to Romania’s capacity to store natural gas have rekindled talks as to the way in which the authorities are managing natural gas storage and imports.