Romanian energy strategy might be approved in the H1 2017, says state secretary

The Romanian energy strategy 2017-2035 might be approved in the second part of 2017, after receiving environment clearance, said on Monday the state secretary in Energy Ministry Corina Popescu in a press briefing.

„The energy strategy is at environment approval stage, so it will still go on public debate. Our estimations show that in the second part of the year it might be approved. It’s very important for Romania to have a strategy that this year, because at the beginning of next year the energy-environment integrated plans must to be transmitted to the European Commission, containing programs that Romania has to monitorize. The natural order is: to have a strategy with directions, to show what the direction is and afterwards you come with concrete measures. This is good for Romania also,” said Popescu.

Popescu added that according to the strategy draft, Romania needs investments of EUR 20 billion in the energy sector.

„EUR 20 billion were somehow a macro estimation. In the strategy there were given some directions, some key points for the future. There comes the second stage, with national integrated energy-environment plans, where the projects have to be detailed and a more precise evaluation has to be made.

It’s somehow worrying when you hear that you have to invest Eur 20 billion to have the same stability. It’s clear that the state won’t be able to invest all this amount, so somehow some funds will be attracted for investment. I hope it won’t happen again with those who believed in Romania and invested in reusables,” added she.

According to her, there are other mechanisms of investments attraction.

„It’s the National Plan of Investment where producers can keep a certain amount of money instead of paying it, they can invest and re-technologize their own production units. There are several manners in which funds can be attracted,” said the state secretary.