Pipeline installation has officially begun on Romania’s Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea, marking a key milestone in one of the European Union’s largest natural gas developments.
The project is estimated to hold around 100 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas and is expected to significantly reshape Romania’s energy position in Europe once production begins in 2027.
The development is being carried out as a joint venture between OMV Petrom and Romgaz, with majority control held by Austria’s OMV through OMV Petrom.
At a ceremony marking the start of pipeline works, OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere said the project would elevate Romania’s role within the European Union’s energy landscape, stressing the importance of developing domestic gas resources in Europe and bringing them to market.
Once operational, Neptun Deep is expected to double Romania’s gas production and potentially turn the country into a net exporter. The project is also expected to supply gas to Germany and Moldova, while interest has also been expressed by countries including Slovakia.
Two pipeline-laying vessels owned by Italy’s Saipem are carrying out the offshore installation work. The ships will lay around 160 kilometers of pipeline connecting offshore wells to onshore facilities near Constanța.
According to OMV Petrom, pipeline installation is expected to take around two months, while the associated gas metering plant is scheduled for completion by the summer.
Romgaz CEO Răzvan Popescu said the start of pipeline installation confirms that the project remains on schedule. He added that six deep-water wells still need to be drilled as part of ongoing development work.
Additional infrastructure is also under construction, with parts of the production platform being built in Indonesia and Italy and expected to be transported to the Black Sea later this year.
The Black Sea, which borders Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, as well as Russia via Crimea, is a strategically important region for energy production and transport
