On March 23, 2026, the French Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Romania (CCIFER) organized the third edition of its “Expert Days: Net Zero Economy – From Public Policies to Company Solutions” at ENGIE Romania’s headquarters. The event gathered 70 participants, including government representatives, business leaders, and energy sector experts, to discuss strategic directions for Romania’s energy transition amid current geopolitical challenges.

In his opening remarks, Nicolas RICHARD, CCIFER President, stated: “The energy transition is at the heart of CCIFER members’ concerns, with gas playing a key role as a transition fuel in this complex process. Green gases, alongside renewables, are essential pillars guiding us toward zero carbon emissions.”

Cristian BUȘOI, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, added: “As an EU member state, Romania actively contributes to diversifying energy sources and reducing import dependency, especially from Russian gas. This is supported by exploiting Black Sea resources and developing interconnections with neighboring countries. At the same time, Romania invests in base production capacities, domestic resources, clean energy, and technologies to balance the energy system. This investment mix is not just necessary but essential for economic development, industrial competitiveness, and national energy security. The energy transition must be managed to avoid regional imbalances or structural job losses, instead creating new opportunities for communities affected by traditional industry transformations.”

First Roundtable: Roadmap for Romania’s Decarbonization

Moderated by Adriana Record, CCIFER Executive Director, the session featured Cristian BUȘOI (State Secretary, Ministry of Energy), Mihaela FRĂSINEANU (State Counselor, Romanian Government), Nicolas RICHARD (CEO, Engie România), and Franck NEEL (Executive Board Member for Downstream Gas and Power, OMV Petrom). Key points included:

• Need to develop domestic production capacities, boost investments in renewables and nuclear, and reduce external dependency.
• Importance of collaborating with institutions like the World Bank for a competitive Net Zero path, warning of risks in losing EU funds without swift action.
• Role of natural gas and new technologies—biomethane, hydrogen, and carbon capture—as complementary decarbonization solutions.
• Pragmatic approach allowing Romania to leverage natural gas while integrating biomethane and renewables as core elements.
• Realistic, competitive solutions, emphasizing Black Sea resource exploitation and storage technologies.
• Romania’s significant potential in biogas and biomethane production, plus the need for infrastructure to transport and utilize carbon capture.

Second Roundtable: Technical Aspects of Decarbonization

This panel focused on financing and market tools, with speakers Simina BOSSENNEC (Deputy General Director, Investment and Development Bank), Denisa VOICULESCU (Business Sales Director, ENGIE Romania), Eugen ANICESCU (CEO, AON România), and Lucie AITSAHALIA (Sustainable Development & QHSE Manager, FM Logistic România). Highlights:

• Dedicated financial solutions for the energy transition, including programs for SMEs and large companies to cut fossil fuel reliance and boost energy efficiency.
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) as strategic tools for stabilizing energy costs and enhancing competitiveness in volatile markets. Denisa VOICULESCU noted: “In a volatile energy market, a PPA gives companies essential predictability for long-term energy costs—protection against price fluctuations, budget stability, and investment planning. Even with renewable production variability, a well-structured PPA manages imbalances without direct client impact. At ENGIE, we handle this complexity. Globally, the ENGIE Group led with 4.8 GW of PPAs signed in 2025, reaching a total portfolio of about 14 GW.”
• Insurance market’s role in supporting energy project investments and emerging technologies via tailored risk solutions.
• Logistics sector challenges in decarbonization, including biomethane adoption and electrification, plus the need for collaborative ecosystems to share costs. Lucie AITSAHALIA said: “From the Expert Days event, I’m convinced: decarbonizing supply chains requires full ecosystem collaboration. We must build bridges, not silos, for Net Zero. Let’s start with shared roadmaps and action plans with partners—from clients to suppliers—to accelerate collective decarbonization.”

Adriana Record concluded: “Romania can become a strategic player in regional energy security, but this depends on our ability to adapt, ensure coherent public policies, and attract investments.”