Transgaz offers to boost gas exports to end EU antitrust probe (updated)
21/09/2018 12:20
(Adds details)
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Romania's gas pipeline
operator Transgaz ROTGN.BX has offered to boost natural gas
exports to Hungary and Bulgaria, EU antitrust regulators said on
Friday, as the state-owned company seeks to stave off a fine.
The European Commission opened a probe last year on concerns
Transgaz may be hindering gas exports to other European Union
countries.
The Commission's strategy to create a single energy market
in the 28-country bloc hinges on allowing cross-border gas
sales. It forced Russia's Gazprom this year to amend its pricing
structure and allow rivals a foothold in eastern Europe.
Transgaz's proposal includes increasing export capacities
from 0.1 billion cubic metres to 4 billion cubic metres per year
to Hungary and Bulgaria, not discriminating between export and
domestic tariffs and not hampering exports.
The EU enforcer said the offer would remain in force until
the end of 2025. It said third parties have four weeks to
provide feedback on Transgaz's offer.
Romania is the third largest natural gas producer in the
bloc, behind the Netherlands and Britain.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee
Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Edmund Blair)
((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 6844; Reuters
Messaging: foo.yunchee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))