Earnings call transcript: Romgaz Q3 2025 sees record profit, stock climbs

Romgaz reported its Q3 2025 earnings with a net profit of RON 755 million, marking a 73% year-over-year increase, the highest ever for the first nine months. Total revenue reached RON 6.05 billion, up 7% from the previous year. The company's stock price increased by 1.32% to 6.09 RON, reflecting strong investor confidence. The company's robust performance was driven by increased natural gas and condensate production, alongside strategic market positioning.

Key Takeaways

• Record net profit for the first nine months, reaching RON 2.43 billion.
• Natural gas production increased slightly by 0.1% year-over-year.
• Significant progress in the Caragele Deep project, with numerous wells in production and testing phases.
• Dominant market position with a 65% share of total consumption in Romania.
• Stock price surged by 90% year-to-date.

Company Performance

Romgaz demonstrated a strong performance in Q3 2025, with a significant increase in net profit and revenue compared to the previous year. The company's strategic focus on enhancing production efficiency and expanding its market share has paid off, positioning it as a leader in the Romanian gas market. The successful completion of several projects and the reactivation of inactive wells contributed to this growth.

Financial Highlights

• Total revenues: RON 6.05 billion (+7% YoY)
• Net profit: RON 2.43 billion (+7% YoY)
• Q3 net profit: RON 755 million (+73% YoY)
• EBITDA margin: 54.8%
• EBIT rate: 46.4%
• Net profit rate: 40.3%

Outlook & Guidance

Romgaz is focused on its long-term projects, including the Neptune Deep project, with first gas expected in 2027. The company is also pursuing decarbonization strategies and partnerships for green energy development. Estimated regulated gas sales for Q4 2025 are projected at 10.6 TWh, with a slight decrease expected in Q1 2026.

Executive Commentary

Gabriela TRÂNBIŢAŞ, CFO, highlighted the company's production increase, stating, "We succeeded to increase our gas production by 0.5% compared to the same period of 2024." Additionally, she noted the impressive stock price performance, saying, "Our share price surged over 90% this year."

Risks and Challenges

• Potential fluctuations in natural gas prices could impact profitability.
• Regulatory changes in the energy sector may pose compliance challenges.
• Increased competition from imports, which now represent 32% of domestic consumption.
• Execution risks related to long-term projects like Neptune Deep.

Q&A

During the earnings call, analysts questioned the termination of the Iernut power plant contract and sought clarity on the company's decarbonization strategy. Romgaz provided updates on potential CO2 storage investments and the ongoing Azomureș acquisition process, addressing investor concerns about future growth and sustainability initiatives.

Full transcript - Societatea Nationala de Gaze Naturale Romgaz SA (SNG) Q3 2025:

Conference Moderator, Romgaz: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our conference call for discussing the results recorded by Romgaz Group in the first nine months of 2025. After introducing the speakers, Ms. Gabriela TRÂNBIŢAŞ, Chief Financial Officer, will make an opening speech. Thereafter, the Q&A session will take place. Please be advised that this conference is being recorded for internal purposes. On behalf of the company, the following speakers attend this conference: Ms. Gabriela TRÂNBIŢAŞ, Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Gabriela MAREȘ, Strategy International Relations and European Funds Director, Mr. Ion Foydash, Production Director, Mr. Radu Moldovan, Energy Trading Director, and our Investor Relations Department. Now, I would like to give the floor over to Ms. Gabriela TRÂNBIŢAŞ, who will open the conference call with an opening speech.

Gabriela TRÂNBIŢAŞ, Chief Financial Officer, Romgaz: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining our conference call to discuss the results recorded by Romgaz Group in the first nine months of 2025. We published today the quarterly report and the consolidated interim financial statements for the first nine months of the third quarter of 2025, which present our economic and financial achievements in the period. Also, an updated presentation of the group is available on our website in the Investor section. I will start with some aspects of the gas market context in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year. Natural gas consumption in Romania advanced marginally by 2.5% to 72 TWh, while gas imports recorded a significant increase of 65%, reaching a 32% weight in the domestic consumption, according to our assessment.

On the Central European Gas Hub, the average reference price rose by over 30%, according to data provided by the National Authority for Regulation of the Mining, Oil, and CO2 Geological Storage Activities. Similarly, we assessed that on the Romanian Commodities Exchange, the wholesale average price increased significantly in the first nine months, the market still having a weak trading liquidity as a result of the current regulation enforced. Regarding the fiscal framework in the energy sector in Romania, Romgaz's activities continue to be influenced mainly by Government Emergency Ordinance 27, issued in March 2022, and Government Emergency Ordinance Number 6, applied starting April 1, 2025.

Let us remind you of the main legal provisions applicable to gas producers. Regulated gas selling price of RON 120 per megawatt-hour for the gas sold to households and suppliers of households, key producers, and their suppliers for the production of thermal energy for households, and to the transmission operator and distributors for a maximum of 75% of their technological consumption. This price level is applied until the end of March 2026. For the gas sold at regulated prices, payment of the windfall profit tax is exempted, and gas royalties are computed based on these regulated prices instead of Central European Gas Hub reference price. We continue this presentation by highlighting the operational and financial performance recorded by Romgaz Group in nine months 2025. Production of natural gas reached 3.68 BCM, marginally higher by 0.1% year-on-year and overcompensating for the committed natural decline of maximum 2.5%.

In Q3 alone, we succeeded to increase our gas production by 0.5% compared to the same period of 2024 to the level of 1.19 BCM. The significant performance achieved in the first nine months was due to the steady efforts undertaken to consolidate the potential of our onshore output, of which I will mention continuous rehabilitation projects of the main mature gas reservoirs in order to maximize production and increase the recovery factor. We completed investments in production infrastructure, which allowed us to stream in production pipe wells. We reactivated 133 inactive wells through specific investment works, with an initial daily flow of over 1.72 million cubic meters in total. Also, we finalized six surface facilities, have six other facilities in execution, another 17 in different preparation stages, and we performed reactivation and capitalizable repairs for a total of 167 production wells.

We can also mention that all these measures led to a significant 57% increase in our condensate production to the level of 39,944 tons in the first nine months of 2025, due mostly to high production in our Caragele commercial field. Regarding Caragele Deep, works are progressing with 76 Rosetti wells preparing for production testing, 54 Damiaca wells in execution, 78 Rosetti wells in production, while seven other wells are in different stages of drilling preparation. Compared to last year, we improved even more our strong position already held on the Romanian gas market. Our market share climbed to almost 65% of total consumption in Romania and reached 80% of the consumption covered from domestically produced gas, according to our assessment. We recorded total revenues from the gas sold higher by 8.3% year-on-year to RON 5.25 billion compared to RON 4.85 billion in the same period of 2024.

This good result was due to gas volume sold elevated by 12.4% year-on-year to 3.63 BCM in nine months 2025, based on net volumes extracted from underground storages and lower deliveries to Iernut Power Plant. Revenues from storage services increased by 16% year-on-year to RON 432 million, with revenues from injection services 53% higher. Revenues from electricity declined by 20% year-on-year to RON 245 million, as production of our old power plant has expectedly decreased to 480 GWh in nine months 2025, still supporting the security of supply in the energy market in Romania. Overall, Romgaz Group reported total revenues of RON 6.05 billion, higher by 7% compared to RON 5.63 billion a year ago, based on the strong contribution of our upstream segment.

On the expenses side, we can point out that windfall profit tax decreased by 24% year-on-year to RON 597 million in the first nine months of 2025, compared to RON 791 million last year due to higher gas deliveries at a regulated price. Gas and UGS royalties adjusted by 2% to RON 421 million. Altogether, the main taxes were lower by 16% year-on-year and represented an expense of RON 1.03 billion compared to RON 1.24 billion last year, with a positive effect on our profitability. Bottom line, net profit amounted to RON 2.43 billion, elevated by 7% year-on-year, representing the highest value ever recorded over this period by Romgaz Group. All profitability rates were substantial: EBITDA margin at 54.8%, EBIT rate at 46.4%, and net profit rate at 40.3%.

For Q3 alone, we can underline a net profit of RON 755 million, elevated by 73% compared to 2024, being at the highest value ever recorded in Q3, as well as the highest net profit margin of 42% ever reported in this quarter. On the CapEx side, Romgaz Group invested a total consolidated amount of RON 2.84 billion in nine months 2025. Of this, RON 2.07 billion represented the investment of Romgaz Black Sea Limited and RON 732 million, the investments made by Romgaz alone, mainly in exploration and production modernization. With respect to Neptune Deep, we continue to focus on permitting activities, construction works, equipment manufacture, and development drilling. Our strategic project is currently in the execution phase and progressing according to plan.

As a result of these significant developments, Romgaz and OMV Petrom are on track to safely deliver the first gas from Neptune Deep in 2027, and the project remains within the budgeted level. Another important objective is the combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Iernut, for which the completion rate was 98% for the overall turnkey project, consisting of the execution of the initial work contract and the execution of the new works contract, and 90% of the last EPC contract. As publicly announced on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, Romgaz sent a termination notice of the design and works contract to the contractor on September 11, 2025, and the contract ceased on October 13. Romgaz has also taken steps to execute the performance guarantees established by the contractor, according to the contractual provisions.

The reason for the early termination of the contract was non-execution of the contractual obligations by the contractor, including failure to meet contractual deadlines. Romgaz has repeatedly flagged execution delays of the contractor and informed periodically the capital market on the status of the project. Following the contract's early termination, Romgaz becomes the general contractor, will assign the contracts of essential subcontractors, and will directly purchase the services and products necessary for the testing and commissioning of the plant. Regarding our strategic development, we remind that Romgaz Board approved the company's decarbonization strategy for 2025-2050 on October 22. This strategy was developed in the context of European and national policies aiming to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The project was developed with the support of EBRD and KPMG and resulted in a strategic document outlining the company's objectives for decarbonization and transition to green energy.

This net-zero trajectory shall be periodically reassessed based on technological progress, availability of funding, and the clarity of regulations. In line with this strategy, please recall that on September 9, Romgaz and Electrica signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of green energy production and storage capacities of up to 400 megawatts exclusively through greenfield projects. The partnership represents a step toward diversification and energy transition strategy of Romgaz. Another important event is the second issue of bonds under the EMTN program, which was oversubscribed seven times on October 28. The new EUR 500 million bond issue has a six-year maturity and a coupon of 4.625% per annum. The result of the second bond issue confirms Romgaz's capacity to access the international capital markets and the confidence of institutional investors in the company's development strategy.

At the end of this presentation, I would like to highlight the strong performance recorded by Romgaz shares on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The share price surged over 90% this year, due, among others, to the company's development potential, solid position on the market, and good perspectives for the energy sector. With this, I would like to close our presentation and thank you for your attention.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, the line is now open to take the questions. I would like to remind you that you have the two options to address your questions, either to raise your hand and turn on your microphone or write down the question. Ms. Ioana Andrei, please address your question.

Hello.

Hello.

Can you hear me? Right?

Yes, please.

Good afternoon. Thank you for the presentation and congratulations for the appealing figures. I have a couple of questions. First, if you could please disclose the volumes sold at the regulated price during this quarter. I know it was estimated around 9.5 TWh, but please, just to be sure. Second, again, regarding the Iernut power plant, it was not clear for me and from the presentation in this point, when do you expect the first production for testing and when do you expect the first commercial production? Third, regarding the decarbonization strategy, can you please disclose what are your plans for the next five years until 2030? I'm interested about the CapEx plans related to this issue.

Regarding the case filed against the European Commission for the pro-rata contributions to the CO2 injections, I am curious what are the investment obligations of Romgaz until 2030 if you do not receive a favorable rule on this issue, and what are the CapEx plans if you do receive a positive outcome? Basically, I would like to know what is the CapEx under both scenarios. Thank you. That is all from my side.

Romgaz Representative, Romgaz: Thank you for your questions. In Q3 alone, we sold 87.65% of our gas at regulated prices.

87, please.

Yes, 87.65.

Do you have a figure in terawatts?

Yes. 10.14 TWh.

Okay, thank you.

Regarding Iernut, as you know, the contract was terminated in October. The contract with the former contractor allowed for the assignment of subcontractors to Romgaz. We asked the contractor to assign these contracts to us to inform us what are the works still needed to be done to complete the project. Unfortunately, the contractor doesn't want to cooperate with us in this respect, so we need to find other legal ways of contracting these works. The site supervisor is working on identifying the works left to be done so that we can start the acquisition process for the remaining works. As we are under the provisions of the Public Procurement Law, the process of appointing the subcontractors may take some time. We estimate that after we have all the contracts in place, it will take around nine months to complete.

Okay, thank you. On the decarbonization strategy, I would like to point out that it contains the main framework of the steps to be taken to achieve the net-zero target. Our initial, or the most important plan for now, is to complete the Neptune Deep project. Afterwards, we will identify the projects that we will perform until 2030. We will have to check the feasibility of these projects, identify the investment plans, and after we have all this information, start implementing them.

Romgaz Representative, Romgaz: With regard to the NGR regulation, as you have probably heard from the press, yes, Romgaz filed against the Commission because we think that the delegated act was not fairly decided. There was no impact assessment on oil and gas producers, which are very much impacted, especially the Romanian oil and gas producers. Of course, we are doing our research in parallel, not disregarding what will happen at the European Union Court of Justice because we do not know what will happen. In the meantime, Romgaz is assessing its technical potential to make possible capacity storage. However, no investment shall be taken, no matter what the outcome from the EU Court of Justice will be. Romgaz will investigate and will only invest in such projects if such projects will confirm its economic and technical, economic and commercial feasibility. Thank you.

Just to be sure, you don't have for the next five years a plan for investments based on this?

There is a plan because the plan, actually, the obligation is given to us by this NGR Regulation, and it means for Romgaz to create storage capacity of 4.12 million CO2 per year. The investment associated with this is around EUR 600 million. Before investing in such a project, we have to do our analysis. The first thing we are doing now and are currently under the process of evaluating is to assess the technical feasibility in order to use depleted gas fields for CO2 storage. This is where we are now. Analyses are, of course, going forward. At the moment that such a project will turn out to be economic and commercially feasible, of course, we will invest.

If not, no matter if we will win at the European Court of Justice or not, we will only invest on the basis of technical, economic, and commercial feasibility.

Thank you very much. If I may, one more question. Regarding Azomureș, can you give us an update?

Yes, we are currently in a due diligence analysis. It's approaching its end. We have two consultants in this process. We have a consultant for the technical, economic, and environmental due diligence, and we have another consultant for the legal due diligence. The reports, we expect the first interim reports probably next week. Our plan is to evaluate them and to come with final reports and, if the case may be, with a binding offer by the end of the year.

Thank you very much. We received a written question from Mr. Adrian Mares. Do you have an estimated finalization date for Iernut power plant?

Romgaz Representative, Romgaz: As already mentioned, we have to assign the contracts for the remaining works to be performed in order to commission the plant. It will take some time. We need to first identify the works that remain to be done and then start the procurement process. After we have all the contracts in place, it will take about nine months to complete. We are working with a target of end of next year. However, achieving these targets is not entirely under our control.

We received three written questions from Mr. Cristian Petre. The first one would be, can you detail next steps regarding Iernut and what are your expectations for the project to become operational? The second one was related to Azomureș, and they received previously the answers. The third question is, can you outline main objectives of the decarbonization strategy?

Romgaz Representative, Romgaz: In the decarbonization strategy, the consultant analyzed a few scenarios. The first scenario was what will happen with our carbon footprint, with the company's carbon footprint if we do not invest at all, if the emissions will only drop due to the decrease of gas production until 2050. The other, of course, this was just to make a comparison on what there is to do. There was another scenario where we also analyzed, let's say, a minimum investment in order to decrease the emissions, envisaging, first of all, to reduce emissions from our own activity for the exploration and production activity. There comes the third scenario where we have tried to see what the roadmap will be and what projects we will need to implement in order to get the net-zero target by 2050.

The outcome of this third scenario, which we are looking at as an aspirational, let's say, target, is to have, let's say, to focus on the following type of projects. First of all, of course, we will focus on reducing the emissions from our own activities, which means scope one emissions, by electrifying, by mitigating methane emissions. Secondly, we are looking to the new technologies in order to make the green transition possible. These types of projects include, first of all, the RES, wind and solar plants. The second would be the CCS, which, as mentioned before, is a regulatory obligation. We are looking also at the possibility to have green hydrogen production and biomethane production.

You can find the summary of the decarbonization strategy on our website, and there is a good presentation there where you can see the % of investment for each of these technologies. However, I remind you that this third scenario, the net-zero scenario, is for us an aspirational pathway, but each and every project is firstly analyzed to see the feasibility perspectives and the potential of implementation because, as we speak, what we plan in this decarbonization strategy has a degree of, let's say, uncertainty regarding regulation, financing, the evolution of technologies, which are at a very early stage right now. Depending on these evolutions, of course, the strategy will be periodically revised and reanalyzed. In parallel, the projects also, each and every project will be analyzed to see if it has feasibility potential.

Thank you. We received written questions from Mr. Jorné Marius Kalin. The first one, can you provide details on the memorandum with Electrica, implementation time? What will be the company's financial contribution?

Romgaz Representative, Romgaz: The memorandum sets a framework under which we will work with Electrica to develop the greenfield projects envisaged. Electrica must first identify the project, run feasibility tests. Until now, we were not informed of any project being selected. The contribution to the projects will depend on the actual projects being presented to us and whether they are feasible for us.

The next question is, can you provide news on the next projects, ERP, retail clients invoicing, Azomureș procurement, and the 40-megawatt photovoltaic park?

Regarding the ERP, currently, we are developing the platform that will facilitate the relationship with the clients in this new market. Aside from this, we are also having discussions with the banks and payment processors to implement online payments that will be embedded into this platform. Also, we are running acquisition procedures for other software that will be needed in this activity for online contracting, call centers. Specifically regarding the ERP, we estimate that by the end of this year, it should be operational. However, until we actually access the market, there are still other steps to be taken. We estimate that the first deliveries will only start in April. On Azomureș, we already provided an answer. We are currently in progress with the due diligence process. On the photovoltaic park, 40 megawatt hours, we still have not assigned the contract.

The acquisition procedure was selected for review by the National Agency for Public Procurement. This is a standard procedure. They randomly select some acquisition procedures, but this review has delayed the awarding of the contract.

The next question from Mr. Jorné Marius Kalin. Do you envisage better results on the electricity production side after elimination of the cap in July 2025?

Results on the electricity segment were fairly similar to Q2 2025. In Q2, we had a loss of RON 93 million. In Q3, we had a loss of RON 96 million. The evolution, as I said, is very similar. On the liberalization of the prices of the market, we sold at free prices even before the liberalization. The mechanism for centralized acquisition at which we sold under regulated prices of RON 400 per megawatt hour was optional in 2024 and 2025, so we did not apply it.

The next written question from Mr. Oleg Galbur. Can you please comment on the results of the power segment in Q3 2025, which were slightly worse in comparison to Q2 2025 despite the end of the electricity price regulation? What has led to a higher loss of the segment in Q3 2025?

In Q3 2025, the plant was stopped due to breakages of the old plant. As such, we had to purchase from the market the electricity that we contracted for our clients. In order to meet the delivery obligations, we had to purchase from the market the electricity that we couldn't produce.

The next written question from Mr. Jorné Marius Kalin. Can you please tell me the value of your investment in Neptune Deep project?

Do you mean the investment for the entire project, the investment in this period? Not sure.

The next written question is from Mr. Oleg Galbur. What is the volume of gas assigned to be sold by Romgaz at regulated prices in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026?

In Q4, we estimate we will sell 10.6 TWh, and in Q1 2026, 9.67 TWh. For the full project, the investment is estimated to cost EUR 4 billion, of which our share is 50%, so EUR 2 billion.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to address them. We received a written question from Mr. Tamar Pletcher. Hello, will you consider buying electricity from the market in the future to meet clients' needs similar to Q3 2025?

Normally, our current strategy is to only sell the electricity quantity that we produce. If the plant breaks down suddenly, then, of course, we will have to buy electricity from the market and meet delivery obligations. It is not something that we want to do.

We received another written question from Mr. Oleg Galbur. Were the technical issues at the Iernut Power Plant solved? Is the plant now up and running?

Yes, currently, the plant is running.

Another written question from Mr. Jorné Marius Kalin. Do you intend to have other bond issues in the next few years?

Currently, based on our existing projects, we already covered the finance needs for next year. However, if some unforeseen projects appear or depending on the situation in the market, we may issue another bond under the current EMTN program. As you know, we already had two issues of EUR 1 billion out of our EUR 1.5 billion EMTN program.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to address them. We received a written question from Mr. Cristian Petre. The EUR 2.76 billion in the decarbonization strategy includes the EUR 600 million you mentioned for CCS?

Yes, they include it.

If there are no further questions, we will conclude this conference call. Thank you for your questions. If you need further information, please contact our investor relation team. The conference is now concluded. On behalf of the Romgaz team, thank you for attending today's conference call.

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