Managers at Romgaz, ANRE, Romanian Ministry of Economy, accused of USD 126 mln prejudice

A total of 40 people, including managers from Romgaz, the largest Romanian natural gas producer, ANRE (the energy regulator) and the Ministry of Economy, together with representatives of private companies will be prosecuted for a prejudice of USD 126 million at Romgaz, which sold underpriced natural gas to several private companies, endangering Romania’s energy safety.  

Prosecutors at the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) accuse the defendants of conspiracy and undermining of the national economy.

The press release issued by DIICOT states that Romgaz sold significant quantities of natural gas to private companies, originating from internal sources, at lower prices than the market average. The private companies in questions failed to pay for the acquired gas. This action also lead to expensive imports of natural gas as the national natural gas storage program failed because it was sold to the accused private companies.

DIICOT states that this action has endangered the National Energy System, which is part of Romania’s economy strategy, thus undermining the economy.

Media sources say that the private companies receiving cheaper natural gas belong to Ioan Niculae, a Romanian businessman. However, Niculae denies any allegation and told Agerpres newswire that he hasn’t received any notification from legal authorities concerning this case up to present.

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“As usual in Romania, the information is first leaked to a newspaper close to DIICOT, which then spreads in the other mass-media outlets, followed by debates and conviction in the public eye”, stated Niculae.    

Ovidiu Posirca