A new monitoring campaign shows that methane continues to leak from wells, pipelines, and processing stations of the oil industry, turning the country into one of the hotspots of invisible pollution in Europe.
Several environmental organizations warn that, despite some improvements being recorded, leaks persist on a large scale, as shown by a recent investigation conducted by 2Celsius, Clean Air Task Force (CATF), and Center for Climate Crime Analysis (CCCA).
Field campaign: emissions at 66 out of 75 analyzed locations
Between July 8 and 16, 2025, experts from the three organizations documented methane emissions at over 75 oil and gas facilities using Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technology. The results show emissions at 66 of them, confirming the systemic nature of the phenomenon.
At 39 oil and gas wells - that is, 75% of those inspected - leaks from valves, gauges, and other components were identified.
"All 22 collection, processing, and storage facilities investigated were emitting methane, including through open access hatches and safety valves," the organizations stated in a press release. Four of these facilities experienced major venting events, and all four compressor stations inspected had significant leaks. Visual evidence was collected at active and abandoned wells, tanks, and damaged pipes.
Incremental improvements, but problems persist
From 2021 until now, CATF and 2Celsius have documented 444 individual methane emission sources in Romania, 112 of which were only in 2025. Although some facilities show visible progress, leaks continue to stem in many cases from "inadequate operational practices," such as leaving storage tank hatches open.
Environmental organizations appreciate that the EU Methane Regulation is starting to have positive effects, but they point out that Romania has not yet adopted the necessary emergency ordinance for implementation. "In the absence of this legal framework, operators have achieved some initial milestones, but the sanctioning system remains inadequate and lacks a deterrent effect," the report states.
"We have the necessary tools. Now they must be applied"
Mihai Stoica, executive director of 2Celsius, emphasized that operators in Romania have already demonstrated that they can fix leaks and modernize equipment. "It's not an easy task, but it's what needs to be done - for the climate, but also for communities exposed to toxic air for years. Weakening the rules now would only reward those who have chosen inaction over responsibility," he said.
A global crisis demanding immediate action
"On-site emissions confirm what satellites document globally: methane pollution is a global crisis that requires urgent action," warned Julia Solana, program director at the Center for Climate Crime Analysis. She added that "Europe should strengthen methane rules, not weaken them."
Calls for strict implementation of the regulation also come from the financial sector. 42 investors, managing assets worth 4.5 trillion euros, recently urged the EU to fully apply measures to reduce methane emissions.
Until Romania adopts a comprehensive sanctioning framework, uncertainty regarding law enforcement and control capacity remains a major vulnerability.