Russia's potential shutdown of gas supplies to Ukraine would not affect Romania on the short term, but if such a situation lasts for a longer period, the country would need to develop its internal gas production, said Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta. He added that internal production would have to include conventional gas, off-shore and shale gas.

His statement came after the Russian president Vladimir Putin sent a letter to 18 presidents and heads of states in the EU, threatening to cut gas supplies. The Romanian PM reminded that Romania has a low dependency on external supplies, of only 25 percent, and that “ after a mild winter, we have the needed supplies for a longer period of time.”

Romania would thus be able to get by during a crisis if it lasts weeks and months, the PM explained, saying he hoped a potential crisis was however short.

In the recent letter, Putin reminded that Russia's state company Gazprom had a contractual right to force Ukraine to pay in advance for gas supplies, and threatened to completely or partially cease gas deliveries if the contract is breached.

editor@romania-insider.com