Middle East LPG Crisis Triggers Brussels Alert: How the Romanian Market Responds Through Record Grid Investments and Storage Capacities — NRG-IA

International Context: The Shock on Gas and Fuel Supply Chains The global hydrocarbon market is experiencing a period of extreme volatility, driven by escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Although public attention has often focused on crude oil prices, the gas market—particularly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and, by extension, liquefied natural gas (LNG)—is feeling major shockwaves. A critical example is the situation in India, the world's most populous nation, which is facing a severe national LPG shortage. According to recent data, India imports 54% of this essential fuel through the Strait of Hormuz, and the blockade of this vital trade route has paralyzed domestic supply. This blockade is not an isolated incident, but an indicator of the fragility of global gas and energy supply chains. The contagion effect has quickly reached the European Commission. Amid the risk of a prolonged energy shock, the European Union is analyzing contingency scenarios that include drastic…