Romania’s Energy Strategy, in public debate after presidential elections.
The change of legislation three months ago gives free reign to domestic companies to look to the foreign markets. Thus, according to the delegate minister of energy, Razvan Nicolescu, two Romanian energy companies are currently negotiating to take over some assets abroad, without giving further details.
“After cogeneration tax was removed, Romania’s energy exports have increased, allowing coal plants to enter the market,” minister said Wednesday in a press conference, Agerpres informs. As a possible new concluding bilateral contracts outside OPCOM – Romanian gas and electricity market operator – , Nicolescu said that he has no in mind something like this too soon.
In another context, Razvan Nicolescu announced that the Department of Energy will launch the public debate about Romania’s Energy Strategy, after presidential elections, because the document can not be used for electoral purposes. According to him, two of the four chapters of the strategy are already completed and the main objective of the strategy aimed at ensuring country’s energy security.
“In 2020 Romania has the chance to be the second country after Denmark, which will produce more primary energy resources than it will consume. This will give our country a regional strategic role,” the minister said. According to him, the second important objective of the strategy is to ensure competitive energy prices. Nicolescu noted that Romania’s GDP depends 30 percent of industrial output, unlike the European average, which is 18 percent. The third objective mentioned by the minister of energy is related to the environment.
A new chemical plant in Dobrogea?
Government proposed KazMunayGaz, the company which owns Rompetrol, to build a chemical plant in Dobrogea area with that USD 1 billion promised by the Kazakh company, said Minister for Energy, Razvan Nicolescu.
To remember the Government approved in 2013 the Memorandum of Understanding between the Romanian State and The Rompetrol Group NV, signed in Bucharest, on February 15, which provides, among others, the sale of a stock package representing almost 27 percent at a minimum guaranteed price of USD 200 million. The document also provides the establishment of an investment fund of USD 1 billion, with the Romanian State participation in the shape of a share company investing in projects in the energy area in Romania. According to the Memorandum, The Rompetrol Group (80 percent) and the Romanian State (20 percent) will establish a fund with the purpose of making investments in energy projects in Romania.
“It is not a decision yet. In addition to the chemical plant, we proposed the investment of some amounts from this fund in gas deposits. They’ve proposed to us the purchase of gas stations which are already built, but we have not accepted and we will never accept it. We can talk about new stations eventually,” Nicolescu said.