We must be intelligent and pragmatic when it comes to the green transition and we must not block investments in hydropower plants, vital for Romania’s energy security, and surrender to non-governmental organizations that systematically sabotage the efforts of the Romanian state, declared on Tuesday in a specialized conference, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja.
„When it comes to the green transition, we must be intelligent, therefore pragmatic. This does not mean that we do not take environmental factors into account, but at the same time, it does not mean that we block vital investments for Romania’s energy security. I am referring here to hydropower plants with advanced degree of execution, of 80%, 90%, 98%: Rastolita, Cornetu – Avrig, Hydropower development from Pascani, so we cannot surrender to some non-governmental organizations that come and systematically sabotage the efforts of the Romanian state to complete these investments.(…) This year, we are trying to finish at least one such investment and it would be a first after 34 years, namely the one in Rastolita (…) In the energy sector, the first place is energy security, to turn on the light bulb when we press the switch. The second place is to have a competitive price of energy, because otherwise energy, development, jobs, they all go up in smoke. And only thirdly, green energy, cleaner air. We hold on to this, but we cannot compromise the other two goals,” the minister pointed out.
In the official’s view, Romania’s Plan on green transition „is a smart one”.
„Why do I say this? Because we have made the following calculation: we undertake to decarbonize our energy system and, in general, the economy. So, we have to close more coal capacities, but I said bluntly that we cannot close coal, strip or flexible production capacities, without putting anything similar in place. And then, in the short and medium term, we are working on gas groups. That means somewhere around 3,500 megawatts – from Mindia 1,700, to Isalnita, Turceni 475, plus the CETs that are being modernized in Arad, Craiova, Ramnicu Valcea. In the medium and long term, solar, wind power, but very important, nuclear power. Units 3 and 4 of Cernavoda NPP, where the calendar is firmly 2031-2032, plus, in the meantime, until 2029, the refurbishment of Unit 1 and the extension for another 30 years,” said Burduja.
He pointed out that the total value of investments in the energy sector, financed in the last year, exceeds 22-23 billion euros.
„We manage enough funds at the Ministry of Energy. Money is not a problem or is no longer a problem for Romania, because, doing a simple calculation, we have somewhere around 16 billion euros, 17 billion euros form Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), plus the Modernization Fund. In the last year, we have managed to sign contracts for green energy production, for energy distribution networks, for gas transport networks. For storage, it will follow in two weeks. So, we have managed to stake somewhere at 13-14 billion euros, and the private sector has responded positively and made its own contribution, so that, in total, the investments in the energy sector financed in the last year exceed 22-23 billion euros (…) Of course, there is a challenge in the daytime, and we have talked about it before, in the storage area. Why? Because in the evening when we go home, we don’t have enough production, we lack the production solar energy of the day. If it’s very hot, even the wind doesn’t help us, so wind energy, and then these difficulties can appear,” said Sebastian Burduja.
Officials from ministries and institutions participate, on Tuesday, in the conference with the theme „Climate change – Great challenges, great risks”, organized by private broadcaster Antena 3 CNN and the National Meteorological Administration.
AGERPRES
