Romania declares energy emergency after receiving contaminated oil from Azerbaijan

 Romania’s Energy Ministry has declared a state of emergency after a shipment of 92,000 tonnes of crude oil from Azerbaijan was found to be contaminated with organic chlorides during unloading at a Turkish port.

The contaminated oil was intended for delivery to the OMV Petrom Petrobras refinery via the Port of Constanta but was blocked, causing a temporary crude shortfall.

To ensure refinery operations and stabilize the domestic fuel market, the ministry authorized the release of 80,000 tonnes of crude oil and 30,000 tonnes of diesel from national emergency reserves.

"The Ministry of Energy has notified the European Commission and declared a crisis-level emergency," the ministry said in a statement.