“Transelectrica supports investments in the Romanian energy sector. Its development plans, of over EUR1 billion, are directly connected to the upcoming investments in the energy system,” Carmen Neagu, a member in Transelectrica’s supervisory board, told an energy seminar.
She said Romania has over 21,000 megawatts available in energy production units.
However, the country’s daily power consumption is covered by units producing 8,000-9,000 megawatts.
“We need to send a correct signal to investors. Based on the data available, it would seem that we don’t need additional energy producing capabilities, but this is not true,” Neagu said.
According to Neagu, hydropower is very important for the country’s energy system and Transelectrica “is willing to support hydropower anytime.”
Neagu went on saying that any energy project older than ten years, such as the project for the construction of a hydropower plant in Tarnita-Lapustesti, in northwestern county of Cluj, is useless.
The Tarnita-Lapustesti project is expected to cost around EUR1.3 billion and its construction is estimated to take around 7 years. When completed, the plant will be the largest hydroelectric load balancing system in Romania, with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.
Neagu concluded saying that Romania must decide whether it wants to become a hub for speculative investments or for real investments in the country’s economy.
Romania’s main energy producers are Hidroelectrica, Nuclearelectrica, energy holdings Oltenia and Hunedoara and OMV Petrom.