ENGIE Romania aims to accelerate its sustainability efforts and play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of the energy it supplies, as part of the broader strategy of the ENGIE Group, according to Sorin Giurgiu, Head of Commercial Customer Sales, ENGIE Romania.
Speaking at the Future of Retail & FMCG Forum organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest, Giurgiu said the company’s long-term objective is ambitious: by 2045, the energy supplied should no longer contain a CO₂ component.
At the same time, he stressed that the transition to green energy comes with both structural and economic challenges.
“Everyone should be aware that green energy represents only 30% of the energy mix. Not all customers can rely exclusively on green energy,” he said. “Another aspect is that green energy is expected to become more expensive. Starting in 2027, there will be a market for guarantees of origin, enabling customers to verify that the energy they use is truly green.”
Key statements
- In the current energy mix, green energy mainly comes from solar panels, wind farms, and partially from small hydro plants. Not all electricity production is renewable.
- A new regulatory framework is under discussion. While household consumers are not expected to face price increases, the business market will continue to liberalize. Companies are therefore advised not to sign very long-term contracts, given potential price volatility.
- Three main factors influence energy prices: production sources, weather conditions, and the geopolitical context. In Romania’s case, geopolitical tensions — particularly disruptions to cheaper gas supplies — have increased market pressure.
- Regarding electricity, domestic production does not fully cover national consumption, which means Romania often relies on imports. Prices tend to rise when regional demand is high.
- In natural gas, however, Romania is better positioned, being the largest producer in the European Union. National production reaches around 24 million cubic meters per day. ENGIE also operates its own storage facility, ensuring greater supply security for its customers.
- On very cold days, consumption can exceed 60 million cubic meters per day, requiring imports of around 10 million cubic meters to meet demand.
- Gas storage levels across Europe remain relatively low. Romania’s storage is about 38% full, compared with less than 30% at the European level. As countries refill reserves during summer, additional demand could keep prices elevated rather than producing the decreases many expect.
Giurgiu concluded that the energy transition must balance sustainability goals, affordability, and supply security, especially for businesses that depend on predictable energy costs. As markets liberalize and green requirements expand, flexibility and smart procurement strategies will become increasingly important for commercial consumers.
