The Commission on securing the natural gas supplies decided on Wednesday to instate an emergency status allowing natural gas suppliers to acquire, through direct negotiation and not through public tenders, alternative fuels to cover the natural gas deficit, Romania's Economy minister Adriean Videanu announced.

Videanu declared that the measure is a legal one which economic agents can use in their commercial relations with others. He added that without this measure, public tenders would have delayed the public procurement of alternative fuels.

Videanu said that the lack of Russian gas represents a serious problem for Romania but that it can be managed. He confirmed that the current priorities are to maintain consumption levels at their normal rate, to insure all public institutions have gas and to protect the industry from serious consequences. The Commission on securing the natural gas supplies decided on Wednesday to instate an emergency status allowing natural gas suppliers to acquire, through direct negotiation and not through public tenders, alternative fuels to cover the natural gas deficit, Romania's Economy minister Adriean Videanu announced.

Videanu declared that the measure is a legal one which economic agents can use in their commercial relations with others. He added that without this measure, public tenders would have delayed the public procurement of alternative fuels.

Videanu said that the lack of Russian gas represents a serious problem for Romania but that it can be managed. He confirmed that the current priorities are to maintain consumption levels at their normal rate, to insure all public institutions have gas and to protect the industry from serious consequences.