Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said that Romania's energy market operates at higher prices than it should under normal conditions because wrong decisions were taken and because the intentional increase in energy prices in favour of certain 'smart guys' was tolerated.
'One of our problems is that our energy market operates at higher prices than it could under normal conditions. This is because we made some wrong decisions and because we tolerated actions that meant the intentional increase in energy prices in favour of certain smart guys'. Unfortunately, this has been happening for years. However, starting next week, I will deal with this issue. We need around 9,000 megawatts to keep this country running. Just imagine that, if the company Transelectrica, for example, together with the companies that are distributors and manage the networks, had an additional production of 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000 megawatts, we would be a country with an electricity surplus, meaning prices would drop significantly simply because we would have higher production,' Bolojan told Digi24 private television broadcaster on Sunday, agerpres reports.
According to the PM, those who want to produce energy must be able to connect to the network system.
'And if the land is already taken, then you cannot connect, and if there is congestion in a certain area you are asked to pay additional costs, the so-called network reinforcements, in order to develop the grid. Do you know how many grid connection permits we have issued over three years - future connection projects? 78,000 megawatts. Just think about it: if we increased from 9,000 to 11,000, 12,000 or 13,000 megawatts, we would have overproduction. These permits were issued to people who mostly only produce paperwork. They have occupied the networks and, if you as an investor want to make an investment tomorrow, there is no more space - you can no longer connect because it is already taken.
But the next day, after you go to that company, someone who has a project might call you and say: I will sell you the documentation.' We have to break up these connection permits that have been in place for years and which in practice block the possibility of producing energy in Romania. You cannot connect to the networks, or you can only connect in a few years, or you can produce energy at very high prices. This is what we must correct, and by having more production and leaving only those who genuinely want to invest to do so fairly, we will have an increased production,' Bolojan explained.
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