Ukraine's Naftogaz in talks with Romania's OMV Petrom to develop Black Sea gas find, sources say

OMV Aktiengesellschaft

16/03/2026 12:35

KYIV/BUCHAREST, March 16 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Naftogaz, which discovered "substantial" offshore gas reserves in the Black Sea before Moscow's invasion, is in talks with Romania's OMV Petrom ROSNP.BX to form a partnership relating to the field, three industry sources told Reuters.

The gas find could further challenge Russia's energy hold on Europe.

The sources did not indicate the recoverable gas amount of the discovery, but one of them said it was "one of the most promising gas fields in the Black Sea region," where Romania and Turkey are already developing deposits of their own.

Talks were in early stages and development of the field will not start before the war ends, they said.

 (Reporting by Marek Strzelecki, Pavel Polityuk and Luiza Ilie; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

 ((luiza.ilie@thomsonreuters.com; +4021 527 0312; https://www.reuters.com/journalists/luiza-ilie))