Press Review - October 15, 2015

10.15.2015 By Gabriela Stan

Lukoil, PanAtlantic And Romgaz Discover Large Offshore Gas Field In Romania

Russian group Lukoil discovered, in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea, a natural gas field with reserves estimated at over 30 billion cubic meters of gas, which would cover Romania’s gas consumption for almost three years.

Romgaz also takes part in the project in collaboration with Lukoil and PanAtlantic (USA). Currently, Romgaz share in the project is 10%, Lukoil owns 72% and PanAtlantic Petroleum Ltd.

"According to preliminary results of the analysis of drilling data and geophysical exploration, the Lira-1X delivered a productive interval with an effective gas-saturated thickness of 46 meters. According to seismic data, the area of the gas field can reach up to 39 km(2), reserves can exceed 30 bln cubic meters of gas, which is to be confirmed during evaluation drilling," according to the statement.

The drilling of exploratory well LIRA 1X was completed in October 2015. (Evenimentul Zilei)

President Klaus Iohannis To Meet With President Of European Parliament In Brussels

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will have a meeting with Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, on Thursday in Brussels, as the Romanian President will be attending the meeting of the European Council between October 15 and 16.

The meeting of the European Council will focus on migration issues.

At 13:00 local time Thursday, Klaus Iohannis and Martin Schulz will have a common press conference.

In Brussels, the President will also meet with Romanian MEPs. (Adevarul)

Segment Of Orastie-Sibiu Highway Inaugurated Last Year To Be Demolished And Rebuilt

A 200-meter section of Orastie-Sibiu highway, inaugurated last year, will be completely demolished and rebuilt in accordance with the technical project due to foundation issues.

After the most expensive highways (“Bechtel“ and Comarnic-Brasov segments) and the highway with the longest period of construction (Bucharest-Constanta), Romania witnesses a new “wonder” of the road infrastructure sector: the first highway segment in Europe which has been so poorly projected and built that it has to be completely demolished and rebuilt.

Thus, Romania’s roads authority CNADNR asked the constructor of the Orastie-Sibiu highway to demolish and completely rebuild a segment of 200 - 300 meters of the highway due to foundation issues caused by seepage. (Adevarul)

National Integrity Agency: 32 Current Or Former MPs, In Conflict Of Interest

The National Integrity Agency (ANI) established that 32 current or former MPs, including Attila Kelemen, Madalin Voicu, Ion Stan, Mihaita Calimente, Bogdan Ciuca, Iulian Iancu and Ion Mocioalca, were in conflict of interest as they hired their relatives to the parliamentary offices.

The total value of the contracts closed by breaching the legal framework on conflicts of interest reaches RON1,062 (approximately EUR 240,000).

In the case of former deputies Viorel Carare, Stefan Sorin Zamfirescu and Dan Radu Zatreanu and Senator Catalin Croitoru, ANI has notified the Prosecutor’s Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice for checking up a potential conflict of interest, while in the other cases, the actions were already subject to the statute of limitations. (Puterea)

National Flu Vaccination Campaign To Start On Thursday  

The national influenza vaccination campaign will start Thursday; the Romanian state will only distribute 500,000 doses of free vaccine doses despite specialists’ warning that around 3 million people should get the vaccine to prevent the disease from spreading.

The number of persons who get vaccinated against the flu has been constantly decreasing lately. In 2008, 2.7 million Romanians were vaccinated, while their number dropped fivefold in 2014 and 2015.
 

The 500,00 free doses of flu vaccine will be used mainly for pregnant women, children between 6 months and 5 years old, old persons and patients with chronic conditions, while the rest of the population will have to buy the vaccine (RON20-40). (Evenimentul Zilei)