The clunkers program’s 2012 edition began less than a month ago, with a budget large enough for the scrappage of 30,000 old vehicles. According to Environment Ministry statistics, during this short period, the program has paid for the scrappage of 11,927 cars. In 2010 and 2011, some 305,967 used cars were scrapped through this program.
The minister said the Environment Fund’s accounts hold the surplus financing from previous years, but the ministry cannot access this money, because of a Government decision meant to keep public spending in check.
“We hope that, eventually, probably in the middle of the year, a budget revision will give us additional funds. Not from the state budget, but from the Environment Fund’s accounts,” Korodi explained.
The Green House program, which provides subsidies for home heating using alternative energy sources, will not run this year, as the ministry focuses its financial efforts to cover expenses on investments made in previous years, the minister said.