Schools And Kindergartens In Prahova Closed Monday And Tuesday Due To Bad Weather
Schools and kindergartens in Romania’s southeastern county of Prahova are closed Monday and Tuesday following heavy snowfall over the past days, said Aurel Graur, spokesperson of the Prahova County School Inspectorate.
Heavy snowfall and blizzards over the past days paralyzed many regions in the country, leaving people snowed-in, trapped in cars on impassable roads or waiting for hours for ambulances. Railway traffic was also affected and the rail company cancelled dozens of trains, while others registered huge delays. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Electricity Consumers Paid EUR415.8M In 2013 To Support Renewable Energy
Electricity consumers in Romania paid EUR415.8 million in 2013 to support the renewable energy through the system of green certificates, up 33.7% from EUR310.8 million in 2012, even if the price per certificate fell 25%, the energy watchdog ANRE said.
The average price of a green certificate reached EUR42 in 2013, compared to EUR56 in 2012, according to the energy regulator.
A total 9.9 million green certificates were traded in 2013, up 78.3% from 5.55 million units in 2012, due to an accelerated increase in the production of electricity from renewable sources.
Green energy producers receive a number of certificates depending on the generation technology they use and the amount of energy they produce. They sell green certificates to energy suppliers, who must ensure a certain amount of renewable energy for consumers. The number of green certificates they bought indicates whether they met their quota or not. The affair entails expenses for energy suppliers, which transfer them to beneficiaries. (Adevarul)
Potential Hidroelectrica IPO Brokers Urged To Require Fee Below 0.96%
The committee tasked with selecting the consortium that will assist with the sale of a 15% stake in Romanian hydropower producer Hidroelectrica asked potential brokers to submit improved financial offers, namely, a fee below 0.96%, the minimum level required by a participant, capital market sources told Mediafax.
Five consortia, including global banks such as JP Morgan, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, filed bids to assist with the sale of a 15% stake in Hidroelectrica, the country’s largest electricity producer.
Romania plans to sell 15% in the hydropower company and considers a dual listing, in Bucharest and in London. The initial public offering will likely take place in June, Minister Delegate for Energy Constantin Nita told Mediafax last week. (Curentul)
Nuclearelectrica Sues Romanian Energy Watchdog Over Electricity Tariff
Nuclearelectrica is requesting ANRE partly reconsider its Decision no. 3906 of December 20, 2013 regarding the electricity volume sold via regulated contracts and the regulated prices for the electricity delivered during 2014.
The nuclear power company also demands that the energy watchdog recalculate the electricity prices to include “all elements requested and justified by Nuclearelectrica which have been previously ignored by ANRE.”
In December last year, ANRE announced Nuclearelectrica and hydropower generator Hidroelectrica would have to sell up to 50% of their electricity output at regulated tariffs.
Both Nuclearelectrica and Hidroelectrica are controlled by the state. The two companies were designated as sole providers of electricity to households. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Catalin Predoiu- Democratic Liberal Party’s Official Candidate For Presidential Elections
Catalin Predoiu, vice-president of the opposition Democratic Liberal Party PDL, is the party’s official candidate for Romania’s presidential elections due to be held in the fall of 2014.
Predoiu said he will “focus on his program and his country project” and that he is counting on his expertise and profession in this respect. (Curentul)
PM Summons Defense Council For Talks On STS’s Actions In Plane Crash Aftermath
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said he summoned the country’s Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) and expects President Traian Basescu to set a date for a meeting.
Ponta confirmed Friday that he will call for a meeting of the defense council based on his attributions as vice-president of the council.
People close to the matter previously said that Ponta would call for a meeting of the country’s top defense body for talks on the actions of the Special Telecommunications Service (STS) after the plane crash incident in the Apuseni Mountains early last week and the dismissal of STS’s general manager Marcel Opris. (Evenimentul Zilei)