“Taxes for green energy are a burden. For instance, Alro has the biggest energy price compared to its competitors in Europe,” board chairman Marian Nastase told a news conference.
The association, founded by Alro Slatina, ArcelorMittal Romania, Lafarge, Tenaris, and Saint Gobain, said the price paid to support renewable energy is too high.
“The price Romania pays to become a top producer of renewable energy is sacrificing industrial competitiveness,” said Nastase.
The association proposed large consumers should be exempt from paying a share of taxes that go into renewable energy schemes and supporting energy efficiency projects.
Nastase added large electricity consumers are forced to subsidize “a small private sector, with guaranteed profits” by paying taxes for green energy and cogeneration.
“We want to continue our activity in Romania and Europe. (…) The measures taken so far [by the government] are insufficient,” said ArcelorMittal Galati general manager Bruno Ribo.
ArcelorMittal Galati is working at 40% capacity, the cement industry at 40-50%, and Alro has reached 80% capacity, officials of these companies said. Also, Saint Gobain has lowered its investments citing high energy costs.
Companies in the association export products of EUR1.3 billion a year and have around 30,000 employees.