This is the third time I am attacking this topic and once again I am convinced that nothing will happen in terms of eliminating the proxy aggression of various interest groups related to the Russian Federation, or a possible phalanx called OMV. (articles here and here)

In this article, we make a simple chronological list of the actions of these proxies and/or agents of influence of the Russian Federation in the energy sector of Romania:

Since 2000, large Western energy companies have not been allowed to invest, and if they entered the market, they were forced to leave (for example, Shell, Total, Chevron, Exxon). Instead, companies from non-NATO or EU countries, and especially from the Russian Federation, were encouraged to invest. “LukOil”, “Gazprom”, “KazMunaiGas”, “Sokar” and newer companies from Arab countries are “big investors” in Romanian energy.

2000 – The destruction of RENEL – the formation of electricity generation companies by fuel type is a mistake that has led to the bankruptcy of many companies that use coal and gas.

2004 – the privatization of Petrom meant the abandonment of oil production and about half of gas production and the destruction of the national petrochemical industry (today half of the trade balance deficit is petrochemical products)

2004 – privatization of electricity and gas distribution began. Companies that acquired 100% of gas distribution and about 70% of electricity were obliged to make investments under privatization contracts. In many cases, this was not actually achieved, but only on paper with the help of NARE.

Since 2004, Russian companies or their important partners (LukOil, Gazprom, KazMunaiGas – Rompetrol, OMV – Petrom, Socar, MOL) have been engaged in fuel distribution in Romania.

2007 – the last Energy Strategy was developed, which had not been in effect for 14 years

2007 – the perimeters of deep-water gas production in the Black Sea were granted a concession. All perimeters are secured by Russian companies or consortia that include Russian companies or companies closely related to the Russian Federation. From 2007 until today, not a single step has been taken in the extraction of these gases, in a situation where in a few months Turkey will start extracting gas from an equally large field.

Since 2010, approximately 150 small and medium-sized power plants that produce heat and electricity have been closed, this fact has created an imbalance in the national electricity system and the national gas supply system, thanks to new separate branches, which has led to an increase in pollution levels.

Since 2012, the year of its establishment, ANRE has only provided false reports on power generation functionality.

Since 2012, ANRM has not auctioned any perimeter for oil and gas exploration or exploitation. (here is an interesting article)

2016 – RADET is declared bankrupt with debts of 3.8 billion lei to Elcen, which in turn owes 1.9 billion lei to Romgaz.

2016 – The bankruptcy of Elcen (c. 5% SEN) showed that this company was forced to enter into an onerous contract with WIEE – Wintershall, the Swiss subsidiary of Gazprom Germany.

2017 – ANRM establishes that the excise tax on gas should be based on the price of gas on the Vienna Stock Exchange, an exchange manipulated by Gazprom

Since 2017, the number of energy companies with temporary management has been increasing, today in approximately 60% of them people from administrative and supervisory boards and directorates have temporary mandates for 4 months. Also, in the ministry and national energy companies, professionals were replaced by untrained party activists. Alarms need to be sounded because of the elimination of vocational schools and the fact that the workforce in the energy industry is aging and skilled labor will replace the current workers.

Since 2018, the commissioning of the Iernutskaya thermal power plant with a capacity of 460 MW has been postponed. (about 5% of national consumption)

Starting in 2021, Elcen, the largest gas consumer in Romania, is prevented from exiting bankruptcy by some interested groups (Moldovan companies with a hidden Russian stake) to continue to have maintenance contracts, so that Elcen cannot access European or national funds for investment and modernization and continue to consume as much gas as possible.

2021 – Romgaz withdraws from the association with national companies from Greece and Bulgaria to build the Alexandropoulis LNG terminal and pipelines to open, a terminal that will operate from 2022 and supply gas to southern Europe.

2022 – Mindia thermal power plant sold for €91 million to non-allied investors (Iraqis based in Jordan) in a situation where upgrades cost over €365 million. Mindia is a major energy hub, where there is a possibility of energy entering the national energy system (no more investment in transformers, poles, grid), there is gas diversion and water capture and processing, which ensure electricity production. Also, in the Transelectrica development project on the territory of the Mintia thermal power plant, there will be a terminal station of the 700 VA power transmission line – Hungary – Romania, so there will be a distribution hub for electricity imported by Romania. Read the entire article and comment on the contributors