The document was approved in the Government meeting held Tuesday, which lasted no more than 30 minutes, according to the sources.
“Consensus in the meeting was that such measures will only be taken in exceptional cases,”the sources added.
The timeframe proposed by the document for the measures stretches from February 16 to March 15, 2012.
Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said there is no chance of interruption in the delivery of electricity to households, adding the Government might decide to halt energy exports.
Transelectrica then said will limit or even cease electricity exports for one month, between February 16 and March 15, 2012, since bad weather diminishes energy resources.
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.
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.