Romania’s interest must be found in Petrom´s investment projects, says Calin Popescu-Tariceanu

The interest taken by the Romanian State in the energy safety must be found in Petrom’s investment projects, said Premier Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Tuesday at the end of the meeting he had with Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, president of OMV, a company that is Petrom’s majority shareholder.
The two men talked about the projects that might contribute in future to Romania’s energy independence: the Nabuco gas pipe and the pile line carrying crude oil between Constanta (south-eastern Romania) and Trieste.
„An important element of energy safety is making sure of the existence of gas, oil and alternative sources, avoiding the dependence on one single supplier,” said the head of government.
He emphasized the fact that Petrom had an investment programme that was extremely substantial: one billion euros for 2007 and one billion euros for 2008,” which will have to be coordinated depending on Romania’s interests.
„My point of view as a Prime Minister is that it is here that one must find the interest of the Romania State in these investment programmes, which should ensure the energy independence in the future,” said Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.
According to Premier Tariceanu Petrom will present the investments projects in the time to come.
The president of the Austrian group OMV on Monday met President Traian Basescu with a view to examining aspects referring to Romania’s energy safety as well as the social impact following the energy price coming up to European standards.
The two meetings were held in the context of the Wednesday session of the Supreme Council of the Country’s Defence (CSAT), during which they will discuss questions referring to Romania’s energy policy.
The Prime Minister and the head of state discussed the agenda of the CSAT session on Monday. ROMPRES