Romania has begun laying an undersea gas pipeline as part of its largest offshore energy project in the Black Sea, Neptun Deep, marking a key stage in one of the European Union’s most significant natural gas developments.
The Neptun Deep project is estimated to hold around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas reserves and is expected to significantly boost Romania’s energy production. Once production begins, currently projected for 2027, the country could double its gas output and potentially become a net exporter.
Gas from the field is expected to supply not only Romania’s domestic market but also other European countries, including Germany and Moldova, with Slovakia also showing interest in the resource.
The project is being developed by a joint venture between OMV Petrom, controlled by Austria’s OMV, and Romania’s state-owned Romgaz.
“Neptun Deep is a strategic project for Romania and for the energy security of the region, involving investments of around EUR 4 billion and an estimated annual production of around 8 billion cubic meters of natural gas. In 2026, we will make significant progress here in Romania: installing the offshore pipeline, subsea equipment, and the production platform. All activities are carried out to the highest safety and quality standards, with the objective of starting production in 2027,” said Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom.
At the current stage, Italian company Saipem is laying about 160 kilometres of subsea pipeline connecting offshore wells to the Romanian coast. Construction is also underway on a land-based gas measurement station.
Pipeline installation is expected to take around two months, while onshore infrastructure should be completed by summer. About 50 vessels are involved in the operations this year.
Romgaz said the start of pipeline installation confirms that the project remains on schedule. However, full commissioning still requires drilling six additional deepwater wells and the delivery of a production platform, with components being manufactured in Indonesia and Italy.
