Romania Allots RON30.1M For Blood Banks
The Romanian Government has allotted RON30.1 million, for 2016 and 2017, for blood banks and the therapeutic use of human tissues and cells.
The funds mainly target the completion of construction works, equipping and auditing services of acquisitions for the four banks of human tissues and cells in Bucharest, Iasi, Targu Mures and Timisoara.
The amounts allocated in this respect target the contracting and implementation of non-contracted components within the project. The money will be allotted from the budget approved for the Health Ministry. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PAID Registered 1.6 Million Valid PAD Policies In 2015
The Romanian Pool of Insurance against Natural Disasters (PAID), which issues mandatory home insurance, registered 1.6 million valid PAD policies in 2015, 6.5% more against 2014.
„In absence of major natural disasters in 2015, PAID made a gross profit of RON25 million and shareholders decided to keep it within the company, as they did in the previous years, in order to improve PAID’s own funds,“ Francois Coste, Chairman of the Executive Board of PAID Romania, said in a statement.
Coste also said the accumulation of own funds, along with boosting the reinsurance program, secures PAID enough resources to pay the insured possible damages caused by a major event.
PAID was set up as an insurance company in November 2009 by 12 insurance companies, namely, ABC Asigurari, Astra Asigurari, Carpatica Asig, Certasig, City Insurance, Credit Europe Asigurari, Euroins Romania, Generali, Grawe Romania, Groupama Romania, Gothaer Asigurari and Uniqa Asigurari, which are shareholders of the Pool.
PAID issued the first mandatory home issuance policies in July 2010. (Adevarul)
Cash-For-Clunkers Program Could Start Mid-May 2016
People in Romania might be able to buy a new car through the cash-for-clunkers program starting with the middle of May 2016, said Environment Minister Cristiana Pasca Palmer.
According to Palmer, the total value of this year’s program reaches RON220 million, of which RON75 million will be allotted to the extension „Rabla Plus”, whereby Romanians can buy 100% electric cars.
The financing guide for the program was put up for public debate for ten days. Official data show that, for 2016, the classical cash-for-clunkers program will have a budget of RON145 million and the value of a voucher was kept at last year’s level of RON6,500.
The program, which targets the reduction of the average age of the country’s car fleet, allows the scrapping of cars older than eight years. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Electricity Consumers In Romania End Up Covering EUR1.8B Loss
Electricity consumers in Romania ended up covering losses of EUR1.8 billion due to the lack of investments by energy companies.
The operators, either power producers, companies in the distribution and transport sector, covered their errors and thefts in the system with the help of household and non-household consumers.
The impact of green certificates on electricity bills rose 11-fold in just three years. Power distributors Electrica, Enel, CEZ and E.ON and power grid operator Transelectrica failed to make the necessary investments, therefore, the national electricity grid registered losses of nearly EUR2 billion. Nevertheless, the country’s energy regulator ANRE approved tariff increases for these companies, which subsequently boosted consumers’ bills.
Consumers’ bills were boosted both by power losses in electricity grids and by investments made by distribution operators for the very purpose of reducing losses, with the latter proving to be inefficient, according to a report of the Court of Accounts. (Puterea)
Ciolos Cabinet Approves Metrorex Budget
The Ciolos Cabinet has approved the budget of Bucharest subway transport operator Metrorex, which is estimated at RON775 million.
The budget does not earmark funds for the construction of a sixth mainline, connecting the main train station in Bucharest to the international airport.
Investments envisaged in this year’s budget target the completion of the fourth subway line, in Bucurestii Noi. Instead, no funds were assigned for the sixth mainline connecting the main train station in Bucharest to the international airport Henri Coanda.
The substantiation note of the budget says the sixth mainline, which should be operational in 2020, has been allotted zero funds because the approved deficit does not allow the acquisition of consulting services for expropriation and works on tunnels and stations.
In 2015, the Ambassador of Romania to Japan, Radu Serban, said he was hoping works on the sixth mainline would start in 2015. In December 2011, Metrorex signed a EUR66.6 million consulting contract with a Japanese-Romanian-French consortium to build its sixth mainline. (Evenimentul Zilei)