Romanian, Bulgarian National Gas Transport Systems Connected On Sunday
The national gas transport systems of Romania and Bulgaria were connected after the main gas interconnecting pipeline, linking Giurgiu to Ruse, undercrossed the Danube on Sunday.
“It is the largest work of this type in Romania and Europe so far, a pioneer work,“ the Romanian Economy Ministry said in a statement after minister Costin Borc paid a working visit to the gas interconnector site on Saturday.
The pipeline has a total length of approximately 25 km, of which 15.4 km on Bulgarian territory, 5.2 km on Romanian territory and 4.14 km undercrossing the Danube.
The project on interconnecting the national gas transport systems of Romania and Bulgaria, on Giurgiu – Ruse route, was launched in 2011 and should have been completed two years later, but the deadline for the launch of the project was extended due to technical issues. (Adevarul)
Hidroserv Goes Insolvent
Hidroserv, a service branch of Romania hydropower generator Hidroelectrica, one of the most profitable state companies, went insolvent.
2016 seems to be the year of insolvencies in the Romanian energy sector, after the insolvencies of state-run energy holding CE Hunedoara, state-run electricity and thermal power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti (ELCEN) and heating distributor RADET and the bankruptcy of Romania’s Autonomous Administration for Nuclear Activities (RAAN).
Hidroserv handles maintenance of hydropower plants and is fully owned by Hidroelectrica. Hidroserv has 1,500 employees. Hidroelectrica spent four years under insolvency in two separate instances. (Puterea)
PSD-ALDE Coalition Attacks The Technocrat Government
PSD-ALDE coalition has virulently attacked the technocrat government less three months before the parliamentary elections, accusing it of breaching democracy in the case of removing Ponta Cabinet from governing.
After PSD president, Liviu Dragnea, started the attacks last Monday, after the speech of PM Dacian Ciolos in the Parliament, ALDE president, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, now threatens that, after the parliamentary elections, they will ask for an investigation related to the deadly fire in Colectiv nightclub in November 2015.
“Romania is the hostage of a group in a manner that should be investigated in the future by judicial authorities. ALDE will ask for an investigation right after the upcoming elections. People have the right to know what happened in November 2015, how it happened and why it happened. (…) It is obvious that the obscure forces, not the political forces, took part in this action, in a non-transparent manner, distorting the democratic process in Romania,” Tariceanu stated. (Puterea)
Raed Arafat: Two Bucharest Hospitals To Be Properly Prepared For Earthquake
State secretary with the Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, told Antena 3 TV station on Sunday that they have a project related to the preparation of two hospitals in Bucharest for a potential earthquake.
Arafat stated that the two hospitals should have water reserves, should be consolidated, while the medical equipment should be properly attached or immobilized so that it would not be destroyed during an earthquake.
The state secretary added that he also recommended the setup of stocks for emergency situations, such as medical drugs and ambulances, while the population should have enough food and water for three days because the stores will probably be closed in case of disaster. (Romania Libera)
Over 400 Children With Heart Defects Subject To Surgery At Marie Curie Hospital In Last 3 Years
Over 400 children with serious heart defects were subject to surgical procedures at Marie Curie Hospital in Bucharest in the last 3 years, with the support of teams of Romanian and Italian doctors.
The surgeries were part of a collaboration program between the Romanian Health Ministry and San Donato Clinic in Italy. According to Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu, the program was extended by another three years.
“We still have children who cannot benefit from this type of surgery in Romania. Thus, it is essential to continue to develop these international partnerships and to realize we are not the cat’s whiskers; it is essential to realize that we can learn from our partners and that we can offer this help to somebody else at one point,” Voiculescu stated.(Adevarul)