A sad victory: the obligation to store gas has been cancelled

by Dumitru Chisalita

ANRE yesterday published on its website a draft Order repealing the Order of the President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority no. 14/2015 approving the Methodology for annual determination of the minimum inventory of natural gas for holders of gas supply licenses and for holders of the operating license of the National Natural Gas Transmission System, with a single article: “The Order of the President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority no. 14/2015 approving the Methodology for annual determination of the minimum inventory of natural gas for holders of gas supply licenses and for holders of the operating license of the National Natural Gas Transmission System, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 181 of 17 March 2015, shall be repealed”. That’s how things happened in this country, we make a mistake for 5 years, we take the money from consumers, kill the companies, destroy the people and then come up with an Order to repeal a mistake. Life goes on as if nothing has happened. We were wrong and that’s it.

The effort to convince with great difficulty a year ago in the Fair Gas Price Campaign a participant to the market of normality to defend its interests and sue the institution that applies fines without being entitled to has paid off, ANRE recognizing through this Order the mistake made for 5 years. I stood by this customer and after only 8 months it had a final court decision on illegality against it. I invite all participants to the gas market to defend their rights and act with courage, as it is the only chance to break through in the series of irregularities existing in the gas market. It is the only chance to have a Fair Gas Price. But the delay of this decision creates a great vulnerability for Romania. Expecting an ANRE Order on the obligation to store gas, to determine – Who? What to do? in the period of April – June 2016 (half the period of time when storage can be made) no gas has been stored. It brings Romania in the situation of potential (triple) crisis in the cold season of 2016/2017 (at a normal level of temperatures):

– not having enough gas for consumption peaks;

– (re)growth of dependence on imported gas;

– acquisition of very expensive gas in the peak period from intermediary companies (see the month of January 2016).

(dumitruchisalita.ro, June 6th)