Emergency mode lifted in Romania as Russian gas supply resumes
Romanian authorities have lifted an emergency mode declared on Jan. 7 now that the transmission of natural gas from Russia has resumed, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said Wednesday, reported Xinhua.
The gas shipments to Romania resumed early Wednesday and 3 million cubic meters are now entering the country on a daily basis, Videanu said.
Transgaz was officially notified by Russia's Gazprom Export on Tuesday that the shipment of natural gas to the European countries has resumed.
Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies on Jan. 6 following economic disagreements between Russia and Ukraine. The cut-off prompted Romanian workers to close valves at the Isaccea metering station in order to prevent gas from Romanian pipelines to flow back to Ukraine.
Russian gas should have reached Romania nearly a week ago. Gazprom vice-president Aleksandr Medvedev has blamed Ukraine for blocking the gas flow to Europe, which Ukraine denied.
Romania has daily imported about 10 million cubic meters of natural gas from Russia exclusively for about 30 years. The country also relies on domestic production for its gas consumption, which totals around 60 million cubic meters each day. Enditem
