Development Minister Cseke Attila called on Thursday on local authorities, including those in Gorj County and Bucharest, to prepare the necessary documentation for engaging financing contracts for the seismic retrofitting of earthquake-vulnerable buildings, stating that this year’s allocations for such activities are „at a record, unprecedented high” and that he is dissatisfied with the slow progress in this area, as there are just 110 financing contracts concluded nationwide for seismic bracing works, whereas their numbers should be much higher.

„I am renewing my call on local authorities. The Romanian state has created four seismic retrofitting investment programs in 2022 and 2023. Beginning with 2025, the budget allocated for these four investment programs is at a record, unprecedented high, and the program is a priority for both the government and the Development Ministry. Which means that we can conclude financing contracts in the amount of RON 7.5 billion, we are talking about EUR 1.5 billion alone for seismic retrofitting, and only in 2025, and we can make payments of over RON 800 million for executed works. All the institutional prerequisites are in place so that this investment program local authorities are familiar with can be successfully carried out. Just one element is still unknown, at least so far, namely the maximum engagement that must come from the authorities who are the beneficiaries of this program and who must submit the necessary documentation,” the minister explained.

According to Cseke Attila, of the 110 existing contracts, only 15 were concluded in Bucharest, although „regrettably, the city counts among the world’s top 10 capital cities exposed to seismic risk.”

The minister said that he has communicated on this subject with the mayors and that he „is dissatisfied with the status of the financing contacts, because the relevant laws and programs have been created as early as in 2022, 2023, and the number of signed financing contracts could have been much higher.”

„This subject must be treated as a priority both in Bucharest and the other administrative-territorial units,” Cseke Attila concluded.

AGERPRES