The European Commission has authorized Transgaz to supply gas to Ukraine: what this means for the market
5 June 22:22
The European Commission has approved changes to the commitments made by the Romanian gas transmission system operator Transgaz, which the company undertook back in March 2020 as part of an antitrust case. The company will now be able to offer export capacity not only to EU countries but also to Ukraine. This is reported on the European Commission’s website, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The statement notes that the changes are in line with the original objectives of Transgaz’s commitments and will contribute to the development of the regional gas market.
What the European Commission Decided
This involves a revision of the conditions that Transgaz agreed to several years ago. In 2020, the company committed to opening capacity for gas exports from Romania to neighboring EU member states.
Now these opportunities extend to Ukraine as well.
This means that Transgaz will be able to offer export capacity on the market for gas supplies via interconnection points linked to the Ukrainian route.
How the new mechanism will work
In May of this year, Transgaz requested that the European Commission amend the terms to allow for the offering of competitive export capacity at two interconnection points on a single pipeline:
- between Romania and Bulgaria;
- between Romania and Ukraine.
Such capacities are allocated through auctions. They are put on the market and allocated based on demand.
This mechanism allows for a more fair and efficient use of the network in cases where it is impossible to satisfy all requests simultaneously.
Why this is important for Ukraine
The European Commission’s decision opens up an additional gas supply route for Ukraine. In practical terms, this means:
- more opportunities for import diversification;
- increased competition in the market;
- strengthened energy security;
- better integration of Ukraine into the regional gas market.
For Ukraine, this is particularly important given the war, risks to energy infrastructure, and the need to constantly expand energy supply channels.
What exactly has changed for Transgaz
The European Commission assessed the Romanian company’s arguments and concluded that Transgaz had provided sufficiently compelling grounds for a review of its commitments.
In effect, the company has been allowed to use its existing infrastructure more flexibly and offer capacity, including for the Ukrainian market. This creates new opportunities both for the company itself and for market participants interested in transporting gas to Ukraine.
The adopted changes are not indefinite. The European Commission notes that Transgaz’s updated commitments will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
This means that for the next six months, the market will be able to operate under the new conditions, and Ukraine will be able to take advantage of additional opportunities to import gas from Romania.
What this means for the region
This decision is important not only for Ukraine. It also demonstrates that the EU continues to adapt energy regulations to the new regional reality. Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine are increasingly integrating into a single energy space, where route flexibility and access to capacity are becoming critically important.
In a broader sense, this is about strengthening Romania’s role as a transit hub and providing additional guarantees for the region’s countries regarding gas supplies.
