According to a government decision, when a new electric power unit becomes operational, another unit, representing 25% of the new unit’s capacity, will be closed down in maximum one year.
The new projects include a biogas-fueled plant at fertilizer maker Amonil, a 500-megawatt pitcoal unit at state-run energy holding CE Oltenia, an 800-megawatt pitcoal thermal plant at Braila Power (joint-venture between E.ON and Enel) and a new 200-megawatt unit at energy holding CE Hunedoara.
Other projects include upgrades at already existing units, while power producers ELCEN Bucharest, CET Arad, CET Govora and CET Braila will build new units.
Part of the new projects will be funded from the sale of greenhouse gas allowances, which Romania is getting for free between 2013 and 2020, under the Kyoto Protocol.
In the next six years, eight units, totaling 1,235 megawatts, will be closed down. The units are owned by CE Oltenia (330 megawatts), CE Hunedoara (210 megawatts), CET Brasov (100 megawatts), ELCEN Bucharest (175 megawatts) and Termoelectrica (420 megawatts).
In 2014, the two units of CET Brasov and one unit of Doicesti plant, owned by Termoelectrica, will be closed down, followed by CET Grozavesti unit (owned by ELCEN)and Deva unit (owned by CE Hunedoara) in 2017, Turceni (CE Oltenia) and Bucuresti Sud (ELCEN) in 2018, and Borzesti unit (Termoelectrica) in 2019.