Slovakia is interested in the gas produced by Romania's Neptun Project

The slovak prime minister Robert Fico stated that the country is interested in receiving natural gas from Romania's Neptun Deep offshore Project, as its Russian supplies are set to cease next year.

"We 'expressed interest, and said that if Romania plans to export this natural gas outside of its own territory -- that is, use it for its own consumption only -- Slovakia offers to utilize existing infrastructure.?And we will be interested to this gas on a business basis," Fico said during a televised meeting with Romanian Premier Ilie Bolojan at Bucharest. A Romanian official said last month that Hungary and Germany are also interested in the gas produced by the 'Black Sea project'. However, it is hoped the Romanian economy will use as much as possible.

Neptun Deep, one of Europe's largest gas deposits with a recoverable volume of?gas of 100 billion cubic meters, is estimated to be one of the most important gas reserves.

The project, which is jointly owned by Romanian oil-and-gas group OMV Petrom as well as state-owned gas producers Romgaz, is on track to deliver the first gas?in?2027.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Slovakia has remained dependent on Russian gas and oil supplies.

The EU plans to phase out Russian imports by late 2027. Slovakia imported a third of the gas it used last year from Russia, but wants to increase that amount before the EU ban comes into effect.

(source: Reuters)