“In order to finalize an agreement between Romania and Azerbaijan, related to the diversification of transport and supply routes, we had a working meeting with economy minister Mikayil Jabbarov,” Popescu said in a social media post on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Popescu announced that Romania is in talks with Azerbaijan’s national oil company SOCAR for an increase of Azeri oil and natural gas supply to the country.
“Together with the representatives of Transgaz and Romgaz we had a new working meeting with the representatives of the Azerbaijani company Socar. We are developing the details of a collaboration in order to diversify the sources, but also to supplement the supply of oil and natural gas for our country. At the same time, I conveyed to them that I encourage them to increase their presence in Romania,” Popescu said in a social media post on Wednesday.
In October 2019, Romanian natural gas producer Romgaz and SOCAR signed a MoU on cooperation in oil and gas upstream projects.
On Thursday, Popescu announced that he has discussed with his Bulgarian and Turkish counterparts about transport routes and the possibility of the two countries supplying Romania with liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In May, Popescu said he is encouraging the return of multinational oil and gas company Shell to its market, aiming to partner-up with the company in LNG projects. In April, the energy minister said that Romania could start importing LNG from Israel via Egypt in order to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Also in April, Popescu said that Romania covers up to 28% of its natural gas needs with imports, most of them from Russia.
