Romanian energy sector: independence vs. efficiency
Experts discussed Romanias energy independence and the efficiency of the national energy system.
România Internațional, 20.02.2015, 13:32
Romania ranks 3rd in Europe in terms of energy independence, but it does not stand very well when it comes to energy efficiency. This is the conclusion of the participants in a forum on energy issues staged by the publication Diplomat Bucharest in Romania’s capital city. In their opinion, out of the three sub-sectors of the Romanian energy industry – electricity, natural gas and urban energy, which includes the centralized heating supply system, the latter is by far the most problematic.
According to experts, the current situation is the result of a superficial approach of this segment in the last 23 years. The public subsidies for fuel, which keep the heating system running, and various social protection measures have deepened problems in the system which are now very difficult to fix. Romania doesn’t stand any better when it comes to the efficiency of the centralised heating systems either, as in many cities these systems have not been upgraded in a very long time, participants in the forum have pointed out. In countries with free economies, central heating supply systems have proved to be a sustainable and cost-effective method. In the case of transition economies however, such systems, although relatively widespread, require serious upgrading to become competitive in terms of performance and costs.
Attending the forum, the president of the National Regulatory Authority for Public Utilities Doru Ciocan has said that after 1989 a large number of localities have been disconnected from the heating supply system. In 2014 only 70 Romanian localities were still connected to the system.
Representatives of the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority have said that before coming up with the final version of the National Energy Strategy, the Government should be updated on the needs of each area, so that the correct decisions are made, depending on the specific circumstances in each area.
Romanian Energy Minister Andrei Gerea announced last month that one of this year’s priorities in the field is to finalise the National Energy Strategy for 2015-2035, currently under public debate, and to further structural reforms, beginning with the privatisation and restructuring of companies in the field. Under the new Strategy, the investment needs of the Romanian energy sector over the next 20 years stand at about 100 billion euros. The document shows that Romania should boost the exploration and exploitation of new oil and gas reserves. Prime Minister Victor Ponta has recently said that in April Minister Gerea will present a series of proposals likely to boost electricity production.
