The energy mix has been a reason to boast for years, but when only 41% of the available capacity is operational in winter, the question is whether Romania’s energy independence risks becoming an illusion or not.
“It’s no use saying we have 200 MW installed in a thermoelectric power plant in Borzesti if they haven’t been used in years. Investments in new generation facilities are mandatory but we must think who will invest, we must rethink the market,” says Carmen Neagu, one of the best-known experts in the energy industry.
Reports of national grid company Transelectrica show Romania has electricity generation facilities both monitored by it and not (because of their small size i.e.) with almost 25,000 MW in total nameplate capacity. Only about 20,000 MW of that capacity are actually available. Out of this available power, 8,300 MW or 40% were operational on Monday, so Romania had to import electricity to meet domestic consumption demand.
Although it may be just something that happened, the certain thing is that investments in new generation facilities have been limited in the past ten years, which shows in the condition of the plants and especially in costs. Romania has the most expensive market on Tuesday, judging by the energy spot price.
“We have plants running at 30% yield when yields abroad are over 60%. We are now paying the price of the old technologies and lack of investment. Romania is independent resource-wise, but it also has unused resources. Waste is such one such resource and when it comes to strategy we use decades-old projects,” Neagu added.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)