Q: First of all, let me ask: what is the state of the energy sector in Romania?
Mr. Florin Frunza: I could say that the Romania’s energy sector is making great leaps towards a cleaner future and also to a capitalization of its own resources, aiming to align its national market activity with the objectives of the other developed countries in Europe. We try to offer the market and our partners all the expertise of the MET Romania team.
In addition to our experience in the natural gas and electricity segments, in the recent years, as a Group, we have developed a new area of interest and investments, the photovoltaic sector, that we believe has the potential to stabilize prices and secure local energy supply. Therefore, I can say that Romania has a lot of potential in all energy sectors, which we are trying to explore in ways that are beneficial to our local environment.
Q: What are the key challenges you have dealt with as a company in the last few years? How did you face them? What challenges are still ‘’in progress’’ and how does a company like yours adapt to such challenges?
Mr. Florin Frunza: Certainly, our activity and the whole energy sector activity over the last couple of years has not been easy to manage, but I think it helped shape the professional ethos of the MET Romania team. The energy crisis and the high volatility of the market were and still are to a point really challenging and made us adjust and adapt the way we were operating.
I can say that we have a transparent and trust-based collaboration with all our partners. These are two of the values that we have tried to include in our commercial relations. Transparency translates into clear, uninterpretable contractual clauses and terms as well as a dialogue based on trust.
Trust, on the other hand, is our insistence on honoring contracts, providing predictability to our customers and partners, and demonstrating that it is possible to have this business model locally. It has been and is an ongoing effort, but I believe that the benefits are visible both in our long-term partnerships and in the stability of our agreements. It is very clear when we talk about market perception, and here I can proudly say that MET Romania is seen as one of the reliable companies on the local market, with whom you can make long-term plans. Moreover, MET Group’s success factors, such as fast and flexible decision-making, access to key energy and capital markets while remaining independent, and strong financing from various international banks, further enhance our ability to deliver on these commitments.
Q: Let’s talk about energy transition. In simple terms, what is energy transition? We have to go from where to what destination? On this journey, how far (in terms of years) are we from the destination, and why?
Mr. Florin Frunza: The energy transition is now a complex and of deep interest process for the whole energy industry, including MET Group. In an effort to make the transition to decarbonized solutions, MET Group has invested in infrastructure innovation across Europe and extended its portfolio in many area of renewable energy sources. This is a complex process, that has certain costs and implies significant changes in some areas and therefore is not at all a smooth process. But the transition towards green or greener energy is ongoing and that is an irreversible process. It will take time to get to the destination, as the deadlines and objectives are continuously pushed further, but constant and coherent investments in alternative energy solutions, like the ones MET Group is conducting across Europe, including in Romania, will pave the way.
Q: What is MET Group’s role in this energy transition, and what are your plans for Europe?
Mr. Florin Frunza: The main role of the MET Group as an energy supply specialist in the European market is to design and implement all the necessary measures to accelerate the energy transition. Over the past few years, we introduced a broad spectrum of projects, including LNG (for instance in Croatia and Germany), CHP (Spain), photovoltaic parks (Hungary, Spain, Poland, Italy and Romania), and wind farms (Bulgaria) . MET Group’s future plans are to focus on the innovative side of the green energy sector, while still offering responsible and efficient ways of use of traditional energy resources.
Q: What is the Group LNG growth strategy? In the global energy market, as part of this strategy, did non-traditional energy suppliers for Europe manage or will manage to replace the supply limited by geopolitical issues? What are your plans for Europe?
Mr. Florin Frunza: MET Group’s LNG growth strategy is focused on expanding its portfolio to strengthen its foothold in both the European and global energy markets. By securing long-term agreements, such as a 20-year Heads of Agreement with Commonwealth LNG and a 10-year deal with Shell, MET ensures a diversified and reliable LNG supply, enhancing Europe’s energy security. Recently, MET Group has reached a partnership agreement with Celsius to build its first LNG vessel, scheduled to be delivered in 2027.
In response to geopolitical challenges that have limited traditional energy supplies, suppliers like the US have stepped in to fill the gap. MET is actively optimizing imports, ensuring flexibility and continuity of supply.
However, we believe that natural gas will continue to play a key transition role in Europe’s energy mix for 10-15 years longer than people think. While MET is committed to supporting Europe’s energy transition, it also aims to expand into growing markets like Asia. This comprehensive strategy helps secure a stable energy supply while supporting the global transition to cleaner energy sources.
Q: As a CEO, what gives you a sense of pride when you reflect on your company’s history in Romania, the strategic investments made, and the funds allocated to the country? What gives you confidence about your future prospects?
Mr. Florin Frunza: MET Romania was established 15 years ago with the aim to provide innovative solutions and to become one of the leading suppliers on the market. The main activities include the supply of electricity and natural gas, as well as consultancy, balancing services and soon renewable energy production, via MET Group’s Green Assets Division.
As I like to say, MET Romania is a balanced mix of Swiss precision and local determination, and this has been recognized by our customers and partners with whom we have developed long-lasting relationships. The MET team is recognized in the market as being made up of highly experienced experts in the energy field, a team that is growing from year to year. Furthermore, I believe our investments in renewable energy and other sustainable projects make a good case for the future, as we work towards becoming focused on decarbonization and sustainability objectives.
Q: The energy market works perfectly as an early warning indicator for future growth or recessions, not just in Romania but worldwide. What does this indicator show now?
Mr. Florin Frunza: At this moment we are in a period of relative stability, after the extreme volatility of the last two years. Indeed, the energy market can be a good indicator for the evolution of the economy.
Still, there is a significant level of prudence in the market, which shows us more responsibility, but also the fact that there is still a lot of unexplored potential. If the last few years have shown us anything, it is that the Romanian energy sector is still in a maturing phase. I believe that predictability and reliability will become more and more important, alternative energy sources will become more and more popular and we will move in the direction that we already see in the developed energy markets in Europe.
It is to be watched how the energy transition and the increasing interconnectivity in both the gas and electricity segments will contribute to the transformation of the Romanian energy market. With over 15 years of experience in the Romanian market, we understand that the core values of our business model are essential in managing crisis situations.
Q: What might be the setback for your industry that you cannot fully anticipate? What is the power of digitalization and AI in your industry that can be somehow anticipated?
Mr. Florin Frunza: Following the last few years which brought different challenges (the pandemic, the conflict near the border, other global geopolitical and economic factors), the whole sector has been working on establishing new and diverse supply channels in order to minimize the impact of external factors, but it is not a seamless or perfect process.
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence are powerful resources that we are using for a while now even in the day to day activities. Diversity enables us to introduce new technologies locally, even in a slower-evolving sector, as MET firmly believes that employee-driven knowledge and innovation are the key contributors to business growth.
An example of MET’s innovation that also optimizes business in Romania is the integration of Artificial Intelligence elements into the company’s operational processes, for example in the forecasting area. MET uses machine learning algorithms to determine on the most likely weather scenario - in terms of wind, temperature and precipitation. These are then communicated to colleagues, who adjust electricity and gas transactions. This is important, especially as renewable energy production is weather-dependent and plays a key role in the energy mix.
Q: How does the culture of the Swiss MET Group and its international presence affect your way of doing business in Romania? How do your clients in Romania benefit from this?
Mr. Florin Frunza: It is obvious that MET Group’s very comprehensive international experience has a profound influence on the way we operate our business in Romania. It all starts in the internal environment, where values are deeply implemented and push us to emphasize excellence, transparency, trust and innovation. This solid foundation is also transmitted externally, to our partners and clients in Romania, who benefit from a predictable approach, specialized consulting and the guarantee of a reliable partnership. Belonging to a strong international company, such as MET Group, offers us an important addition of stability, and in difficult moments our partners and customers know that we have the resources and experience to honor all our obligations. At the same time, the values we inherited from MET Group lead us to have the same expectations from our partners and to become a vector of modernization in the energy sector in Romania.
Q: How would you describe a long-term sustainable future for your business model in the context of the new rules regarding corporate sustainability? What is the meaning of sustainability in the energy sector?
Mr. Florin Frunza: A long-term sustainable future for any business model requires alignment with the growing emphasis on corporate sustainability, especially in the energy sector. Sustainability in this context means reducing environmental impact while ensuring energy security and affordability.
For MET Group, this means accelerating the transition to renewable energy. Building on our expertise on traditional segments such as natural gas and electricty, MET Group’s Green Assets Division is leading the shift to a zero-carbon future. We are actively expanding our onshore wind and solar energy portfolio, across several European countries, including Romania. This aligns with both economic and environmental goals, as clean energy technologies become more cost-competitive. Our strategy also integrates investment in battery storage to address the challenges of weather-dependent power generation, ensuring stability and reliability in the energy supply. Our vision is clear: to become a key player in Europe’s green energy landscape.
Q: These were all our questions. Is there anything else you want to add?
Mr. Florin Frunza: Finally, I would like to highlight that what makes MET unique is how the Swiss values blend seamlessly with the Romanian specificity, creating a balance that drives both our internal efficiency and our reliability in relationships with partners.
Our success is built on three pillars: we are proud to have a team of talented and highly motivated people, we rely on an integrated operational model in risk management, and we run our business more efficiently than most of our peers. This synergy of cultures and principles strengthens our foundation, enabling us to deliver consistent, high-quality services.
You can also find the full interview in the document below:
