Work officially began Monday on the pipeline infrastructure for the Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea, a massive natural gas venture poised to reshape energy dynamics across the European Union.

The project, a joint venture between Romania’s state-owned Romgaz and OMV Petrom—which is majority-controlled by Austria’s OMV—targets an estimated 100 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas. 

Once production commences in 2027, the site is expected to double Romania's domestic gas output, transforming the nation into a net energy exporter.

Two specialized vessels owned by Italy’s Saipem, the Castoro 10 and Castorone, have been deployed to lay 160 kilometers (99 miles) of pipeline. This network will connect offshore deep-water wells to a gas metering plant currently under construction on the Romanian coast.

OMV Petrom senior executive Cristian Hubati stated that the pipeline installation is expected to take two months, while the onshore metering facility is slated for completion by this summer.

The start of the pipeline phase marks a critical milestone for the EU as it continues to pivot away from Russian energy. Beyond domestic use, the project is intended to supply Germany and Moldova, with Slovakia also expressing interest in the future yield.

"It gives Romania a much bigger stage in the European Union, and this is what these big energy projects can do," OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere said during a ceremony marking the start of work. 

"When you have access to indigenous natural gas here in Europe, we should develop it and make sure that we can bring it into the market. "The pipeline is part of a larger maritime operation involving approximately 50 vessels in the Black Sea this year. 

Romgaz CEO Razvan Popescu confirmed that the project remains on schedule, with six deep-water wells left to be drilled. 

Other components, including a production platform currently under construction in Indonesia and Italy, are expected to arrive later this year.

The Black Sea remains a geopolitically sensitive corridor, shared by Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.