Romania Rejects Greenpeace’s Request to Stop Gas Extraction in Black Sea
Neptun Deep. X/ @laurbjn
January 30, 2025 Hour: 8:06 am
The Neptun Deep gas field is located 160 km off the coast, in waters with depths ranging from 100 to 1,000 meters.
On Thursday, the Bucharest Court rejected Greenpeace’s request to suspend the construction and operation of Neptun Deep, Romania’s largest natural gas field in the Black Sea.
RELATED:
Greenpeace Warns of Environmental Impacts from EU-MERCOSUR Agreement
“This is a victory for Romania’s energy independence,” Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said, applauding the ruling.
In September 2024, Greenpeace filed a lawsuit to halt the construction of this gas extraction platform in one of the European Union’s most important gas fields, which could produce 100 billion cubic meters of gas per year starting in 2027.
The exploitation rights belong to OMV Petrom, the Romanian subsidiary of the Austrian oil company OMV, and Romgaz, which is majority-owned by the Romanian state. The project is expected to receive an investment of approximately 4 billion euros.
“Neptun Deep raises serious concerns related to environmental protection, climate change, and legal compliance. We have more lawsuits pending to suspend the Neptun Deep project. This is just an interim victory for the Energy Ministry, OMV Petrom, and Romgaz,” said Mihnea Matache, spokesperson for Greenpeace Romania.
“We are considering the possibility of appealing the decision and are pursuing all possible legal avenues to stop this toxic project that threatens the climate and nature,” he added.
The Romanian government defends the project as a strategic initiative that will double Romania’s gas production, create jobs, and contribute more than 20 billion euros to the national budget while reducing energy dependence on Russia.
The government argues that the project will ensure more stable and lower prices for Romanians, position the country as a regional energy supplier, and support a balanced energy transition. The gas field is located approximately 160 km off the coast, in waters with depths ranging from 100 to 1,000 meters.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
