Radu Marian
The initiative envisages a set of measures aimed at ensuring more responsive and flexible operation of the oil products market and the system of government infrastructure procurement in the face of possible external shocks.
The project, among other things, is a response to the fuel crisis triggered by events in the Middle East.
According to the document, the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) will be able to introduce temporary deviations from the standard formula for calculating marginal prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in crisis situations. In particular, it offers the possibility to shorten the calculation period from 14 to 7 days or use alternative quotations, such as CIF instead of Platts.
Another proposal concerns the abolition of the mandatory transit scheme for fuel supplies through oil depots.
“This will allow fuel to be sent directly to filling stations, reducing delivery times and avoiding overloading storage infrastructure. This flexibility can help restore operational stocks at the filling station level more quickly and ensure continuity of supply for end consumers,” Marian believes.
The draft also provides for a more flexible mechanism for contract modification in public procurement, especially in road construction and repair. Public institutions will be able to adjust contract terms not only on the basis of inflation, but also in case of sharp fluctuations in cost – by more than 15% according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Lessons learned
The authors of the initiative note that these measures are necessary to prevent supply disruptions and disruptions to public infrastructure projects in the event of new global energy shocks.
They argue that the energy crisis has exposed a number of serious vulnerabilities, including over-reliance on a single interconnection line for electricity imports; limited capacity for rapid response in the event of interrupted energy flows; and insufficient backup mechanisms and strategic reserves.
There is high price volatility in the fuel market due to regional instability and supply chain disruptions, which has created significant pressure on economic operators. In the road transportation sector, fuel accounts for up to 40-50% of operating costs, and in construction 15-25%, which increases the impact of these fluctuations.
