Romania is expected to achieve energy independence by the end of the decade, due to shale gas and alternative energy sources like wind and nuclear power. It will then be the third energy independent country in the European Union after Denmark and Estonia. Recent exploration efforts show Romania has significant offshore resources of natural gas in the Black Sea, with recovery expected to start by the end of 2019. Approximately 1.5-3 trillion cubic feet (42-84 billion cubic metres (bcm)) of gas reserves have been found. These resources and unconventional shale gas will help Romania meet all its energy needs and even become an exporter of natural gas.

Romania already meets 80 percent of those needs from its own oil, gas, hydro, coal and nuclear energy sources, and imports the remaining 20 percent of gas and oil from Russia – unlike Ukraine and Bulgaria, which depend almost entirely on Russian natural gas imports. More info here.