Romania Lifts State of Emergency as Russian Gas Starts Flowing

"We are entering a state of normality," Videanu told a news conference.

On Wednesday morning, through the Mediesul Aurit and Isaccea stations on the Ukrainian-Romanian border were flowing 1.4 and 1.6 million cubic metres of natural gas respectively, the minister said.

The daily inflow of gas through the two stations totalled some seven million cubic metres before the halt in deliveries. Videanu said that Romania is ready to cover domestic needs from its own production and stock until imports of Russian gas return to normal, but declined to say when this will actually happen.

He said the country has natural gas reserves of 1.87 billion cubic metres and a current daily consumption of 48-49 million cubic metres.

Russia cut off gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine on January 6 amidst a row with Kiev over unpaid bills and transit prices. Shipments were resumed early on Tuesday after Moscow and Kiev reached a deal.