Bogdan Ivan announces the liberalization of the gas market and the gradual elimination of price caps, starting from March 31, 2026.

Bogdan Ivan, the Minister of Energy, stated that the natural gas market will be liberalized, with the removal of price caps until March 31, 2026. He mentioned that there are already offers on the market that are higher than or equal to the capped price, and the measures taken in advance will prevent a dramatic increase in bills for consumers. Ivan emphasized that he has ensured sufficient gas liquidity and established long-term bilateral contracts to keep prices under control.

The analysis of the energy crisis in Europe showed that price capping was a necessary measure, with the total cost of interventions being approximately 30 billion lei, of which 12 billion were allocated for natural gas. However, capping is no longer considered a real social protection after 2023, but rather a disguised state financing operation, with hidden costs for consumers. Estimates suggest that, although in 2022 prices were 26% lower due to capping, in the period 2023-2025, consumers will pay 14% more than in a free market, and in 2026-2028, prices could be 18% higher than previous peaks.