The agreement between Romgaz and ExxonMobil on the acquisition of the American company’s stake in the Black Sea natural gas reserves project is an important step towards bringing these natural gas deposits into Romanians’ homes in the near future, Acting Energy Minister Virgil Popescu posted on Facebook on Tuesday evening.
“Good news! I would like to make a long-awaited announcement: Romgaz has completed exclusive negotiations and reached an agreement with ExxonMobil on the terms and conditions of the acquisition of the stake in the Neptun Deep project, and the transaction could be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
I am confident that in the near future Romgaz and OMV Petrom will be equal partners in the Neptun Deep project. Important steps have been taken so that gas from the Black Sea will reach the homes of Romanians in the near future”, Virgil Popescu noted, according to Agerpres.
Romgaz sent a report to the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Tuesday informing that it has completed exclusive negotiations and reached an agreement with ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Holdings Ltd on the terms and conditions for the acquisition of the stake in the Neptun Deep project, and the transaction could be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
“SNGN Romgaz SA and ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Holdings Ltd. have completed exclusive negotiations and reached an agreement on the terms and conditions related to the acquisition of all shares issued by (representing 100% of the share capital of) ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, which holds 50% of the vested rights and obligations assumed under the Concession Agreement for oil exploration, development, and exploitation in the XIX Neptun Deep Water Area perimeter, as well as on the transfer of the project operator to OMV Petrom SA as of the date of the completion of the transaction,” the report said.
The agreement will be materialized, after endorsement by the Board of Directors and approval by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of SNGN Romgaz S.A., in the signing of the share sale-purchase agreement. Subject to obtaining these approvals as well as the fulfillment of the suspensive conditions set out in the share sale and purchase agreement, the transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
On June 17, 2021, the two companies signed an Exclusivity Agreement whereby the seller granted Romgaz an exclusive right for a period of 4 months, until October 15, 2021, with respect to the negotiations for the acquisition of all shares issued by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited and representing 100% of the share capital of the company, which holds 50% of the acquired rights and obligations assumed under the Concession Agreement for oil exploration, development, and exploitation in the XIX Neptun Deepwater Area perimeter. Subsequently, the term was extended until 15 November 2021.
Currently, ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom are equal partners in the Neptun Deep project, where exploration has revealed an estimated 42-84 billion cubic meters of reservoirs.
ExxonMobil has announced its intention to leave Romania, while OMV Petrom has said it is likely to make a decision next year to invest in the Neptun Deep project, depending on legislative changes in Romania and the market situation.