Romania’s primary production is currently approximately 70% of 1990 volumes. This process needs to be correlated with the drop in internal consumption (55.8% in 2015 versus 1990), demographic decline and an increase in the population’s concern for energy efficiency (the residential sector consumed in 2015 31% less energy than in 1990), industry reorganisation, restructuring and increased efficiency (industry consumed in 2015 just 25.55% of the energy used in 1990), the decline of the share of agriculture in economy (energy consumption in this sector was in 2015 41% of 1990 levels).

Romania’s energy mix has been constantly changing since 1990, the main changes being: the decrease in energy production from natural gas to 40% of 1990 quantity and 80% of 2000 quantity, and an increase in nuclear energy production by 113% in 2015 compared to 2000 and an increase of renewable energy by 44% in the same interval.

At the same time, Romania is one of the few countries that are almost energy independent (energy dependence in 2016: 17%, 5th place in the EU – only Norway, net energy exporter, Estonia, Denmark and Island are less energy dependent). This situation is favoured by the level of primary production, the decrease in consumption, as well as the increase in energy efficiency. At the same time, Romania follows the already visible trend of countries in the region, the constant decline in the number of jobs in this sector and an increase in the population’s energy expenses (now the same as EU average).

The subfield contains the following main indicators: energy dependency; gross inland consumption of energy and the structure of energy consumption; primary production of energy and its structure; household expenditure on energy; employees in mining, petroleum and gas extraction and energy production.