Pipeline construction begins on Romania's largest offshore gas project in the Black Sea.

Work has commenced on the pipeline for Romania's Neptun Deep Black Sea gas project, which is one of the European Union's most significant energy reserves, with an estimated 100 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas.

Once production begins in 2027, Neptun Deep is expected to double Romania's gas output and potentially make the country a net exporter at a time when the EU is reducing its reliance on Russian gas. The project is set to supply gas to Germany and Moldova, with other nations like Slovakia also expressing interest. This initiative is a collaboration between OMV Petrom, which is primarily owned by Austria's OMV, and Romania's state-run Romgaz.

OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere remarked during the ceremony marking the start of pipeline work that this project elevates Romania’s profile within the European Union. She emphasized the importance of developing local natural gas resources to bring them to market.

Two vessels from Italy's Saipem are tasked with laying 160 kilometers (99 miles) of pipeline from the offshore wells to the shore, where construction on a gas metering facility is actively progressing. According to OMV Petrom senior executive Cristian Hubati, the pipeline installation is expected to take two months, and the plant should be completed by summer.

The ships, Castoro 10 and Castorone, are part of a fleet of 50 vessels operating in the Black Sea this year to support the Neptun Deep project. Romgaz CEO Razvan Popescu noted that the initiation of the pipeline installation indicates that the project is on track. The company still has six deep-water wells to drill, with parts of the production platform being fabricated in Indonesia and Italy, planned to arrive in the Black Sea later this year.

The Black Sea is essential for the transportation of grain, oil, and oil products and hosts numerous offshore drilling ventures, bordered by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia via Crimea.