Page 101 - bne IntelliNews Southeastern Europe Outlook 2025

Energy sector
OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeast Europe, announced it will invest a total of €750mn at its Petrobrazi refinery to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and biodiesel (HVO, or hydrotreated vegetable oil) – namely fuels that have a lower carbon footprint thanks to the use of green hydrogen in the production process.
E.ON seeks to sell its Romanian energy supply business to Hungary’s state-owned MVM. E.ON Energie România is one of the largest gas and electricity suppliers in Romania, with approximately 3.4mn customers. The screening will not be routine, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja stated, speaking of “national interest” and “protecting critical infrastructure”.
OMV Petrom has sold half of its 100% ownership in the Han Asparuh block in the Black Sea offshore Bulgaria to Israel’s NewMed Energy. The agreement, which is expected to close during the first half of 2025, gives NewMed 50% of the block and calls on the Israeli firm to cover drilling costs and other expenses. OMV Offshore Bulgaria will remain as operator of the 13,712-square km block, which is directly south of the OMV Petrom-operated Neptun Deep block offshore Romania.
Han Asparuh holds an estimated gas resource of 100bn cubic metres of natural gas and is situated in some 2,000 metres of water. The block is reported as having the potential to produce some 13 bcm annually from two deposits.
The Dutch group Damen and Romania’s state-owned company 2MMS have agreed to terminate their 2018 partnership for the joint operation of Mangalia Shipyard (Șantierul Naval 2 Mai).
Currently, most of the shipyard’s 1,500 employees are technically unemployed. The two sides have yet to agree on compensation for Damen Holding’s 49% stake, according to Europa Libera. No details regarding these payments were disclosed in the press release from the
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