Speaking at a meeting with Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and the ministers of Finance, Economy and Justice, Plaveti said electricity exports have not been halted. He added that households and industrial consumers will see no problems with the electricity supply.
The Government on Tuesday approved the decision allowing power grid operator Transelectrica (TEL.RO) to temporarily halt electricity exports and limit industrial consumption in critical situations.
The timeframe proposed by the document for the measures stretches from February 16 to March 15, 2012.
As the draft government decision explains, the crisis comes on top of a 50% reduction in water levels this summer, caused by a drought, which also took a toll on the nationwide electricity circuit. Other aggravating circumstances include the increase in natural gas consumption for household heating, coupled with an international increase in gas prices, as well as difficulties in the delivery of coal and natural gas and their replacement with fuel oil during times of blizzard.
Transelectrica said Monday it will limit or even cease electricity exports for one month, between February 16 and March 15, 2012, since bad weather diminishes energy resources.
After the power grid operator’s announcement, the Economy Ministry issued a note saying the measures included in the document are an option, not a fact, and the situation does not yet call for such actions.
Later in the evening, Transelectrica chief Horia Hahaianu was fired, at the request of Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu.