Resilience of Romanian Energy System in the Context of Russian-European Union Tensions

Abstract

This article realizes an analysis of economic and energy relations between Russia and the European countries, focusing on the Romanian energy system resilience against the risks of interruption of imported gas supply. As is known, the Romanian energy system provides, at internally level, industrial and population consumption, and an effective crisis, not only imminent, on Russian gas disruption would generate a major economic and social disruption in Romania. In the context of scenario plausibility of the regional energy crisis, the components of a resilient energy system in Romania are analyzed both from a comparative perspective with other countries in the European Union (EU) and experts from the Romanian institutions. This analysis is needed to draw conclusions for the authorities and civil society. Paper is analyzing the economic and geostrategic Romanian-Russian and EU-Russia relations. The model of gas crisis of 2006 and 2009 between Russia and Ukraine, with visible effects on Germany, could be analyzed using possible important pillars of the new crisis. By using the approach developed in this paper we point the energy trade with Russia and Romania's dependence on Russian gas. Another important coordinate of the paper is to prevent social and economic impacts of energy resources imported from Russia. In this sense, the paper is done knowing the vulnerabilities and the strengths of the institutions and of the companies that provide energy in Romania. This approach is an element of economic and social stability, so that the energy system resilience is interdependent with the resilience of the population at the risks generated by the threats of an energy crisis (natural gas). Russian-Ukrainian population must be prepared for such a scenario by trying to mitigate the possible consequences if the crisis materializes.

Keywords: Romanian energy system resilience, Russian-European Union

JEL Classification: A11