Record gas transit through Romania: 4.1 million cubic meters delivered to Ukraine via Negru Vodă – Isaccea

The first day of March marked a significant milestone for the regional gas market: deliveries to Ukraine through the Negru Vodă – Isaccea interconnector doubled, reaching 4.1 million cubic meters per day – the highest volume ever recorded on this route.

Strategic Transit through Romania

Romanian operator Transgaz manages exclusively the transit of these volumes. The gas does not originate domestically; it is part of the flows transported via the so-called Vertical Corridor. U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) is shipped by tanker, unloaded at terminals in Greece, regasified, and then injected into Bulgaria’s and Romania’s transmission systems for delivery to Ukraine.

This increase to over 4 million cubic meters per day is a major jump from the previous average of about 2 million cubic meters daily, recorded after the official launch of the corridor in the fall of last year. Despite the infrastructure being in place, actual flows had remained modest until recently.

Vertical Corridor – Geopolitical and Commercial Ambitions

The Vertical Corridor project enjoys strong political support from the United States, seeking to establish itself as a major LNG supplier in Central and Eastern Europe, directly competing with Russia for influence in the regional gas market.

Recently, in Washington, 11 regional leaders – including ministers from Romania and Bulgaria – reaffirmed their support for transforming this corridor into a genuine “gas highway,” ensuring stable and competitive flows to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. The initiative aims not only at diversifying supply sources but also at strengthening energy security in a region marked by instability.

Economic Challenges: Costs and Competitiveness

Despite its strategic potential, the Vertical Corridor has faced clear economic limitations. The longer supply distance compared to alternative routes entails higher logistical costs. In addition, three separate transit tariffs (Greece–Bulgaria–Romania) have made gas transported on this route relatively expensive.

For this reason, Ukraine has continued to rely mainly on imports through Poland, which remains the primary gas supplier. Even with the current 4 million cubic meters per day from the Vertical Corridor, this southern route is significant but not dominant in Ukraine’s overall import mix.

Market Signal or Temporary Adjustment?

The current doubling of volumes can be interpreted in two ways: either as a signal that commercial mechanisms are finally favoring this route, or as a temporary adjustment driven by price, seasonal demand, or specific contract conditions.

For Romania, increased transit generates additional revenues from operator tariffs and consolidates its role as a regional transport hub. For Ukraine, diversifying supply routes remains essential amid ongoing conflict and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

In the medium term, the economic viability of the Vertical Corridor will depend on two key variables: LNG price competitiveness compared to other sources, and potential adjustments to transit tariffs to reduce cost burdens. Without such measures, the southern route risks remaining complementary rather than primary.

The current volume increase, however, clearly indicates that the infrastructure built in recent years is beginning to be utilized more intensively, and competition for Eastern Europe’s energy market is moving from political statements to actual gas flows.