Cluj Napoca-based company Unitatea de Suport pentru Integrare will carry out the environmental assessment, after being awarded the contract on February 24, following an open auction.
Unitatea de Suport pentru Integrare is entirely owned by Nicolae Ioan Sergiu Mihut and has a share capital of RON200. Its business core consists in providing consulting services for businesses and management, according to Trade Registry data.
The Tarnita project was announced many years ago, but the government was unable to find the necessary funds to start construction.
The Tarnita-Lapustesti pumped-storage hydropower plant will be located on the Somesul Cald River in Cluj county. When completed, the plant will be the largest hydroelectric load balancing system in Romania, with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.
Last week, Hidroelectrica was placed back under reorganization procedure after the Bucharest Appellate Court cancelled a court decision allowing Hidroelectrica to complete a 12-month insolvency process.
Hidroelectrica, Romania’s largest electricity producer, underwent restructuring between June 2012 and June 2013 after it sold electricity outside the energy exchange below market prices. Hidroelectrica runs units with a total installed capacity of 6,400 megawatts and covers around 30% of the local power consumption.
The government plans to sell 15% in the hydropower company and is considering a dual listing, in Bucharest and in London. (EUR1=RON4.5196)