Department of Energy (DoE) has synthesized the first phase of public consultation on the future national energy strategy in 10 principles that will underpin the next analysis.
DoE state secretaries Karoly Borbely and Michael Albulescu will coordinate the team which will continue developing the energy strategy, in four successive stages. The team will analyze the current state of the Romanian energy system, Romania’s commitments as a member state of the European Union, the scenarios and trends of domestic energy system development, as well as the energy policy and strategic options that Romania has.
Here are the 10 principles that will underpin the new strategy:
1. It is strategic for Romania to maintain a balanced energy mix as a good prerequisite for ensuring energy security.
2. There are real prospects for Romania to improve its energy independence or even to become energy independent around 2020, mostly due to deposits in the Black Sea, even if it continues, most likely, to be dependent to some extent on oil imports.
3. Between 2014 and2024 Romania should encourage a prudent development of renewable energy production, with an emphasis on biomass, given that investments in wind and photovoltaic have grown too quickly and in a unsustainable manner in recent years. In the coming years, the installation of new electricity generation capacity in wind and photovoltaic could cause significant problems in the system. Also , DoE considers that a priority for renewables could target the finding of an alternative to classic fuels to power transportation.
4. Development of nuclear energy is essential for achieving the European goals on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
5. Coal could remain an important source for Romania’s energy security, even though its share in the energy mix will decrease, being affected by the increase in energy consumption.
6. Romania has great potential in terms of energy efficiency, potential that needs to be harnessed effectively, including in buildings management.
7. Romania’s energy market could be fully integrated around 2019-2020 in EU energy market, since the project of creating a common European energy policy will be accelerated.
8. Implementing corporate governance rules in state companies must be accelerated and, at the same time, to be complemented by an analysis of the possibility of strengthening the Romanian energy industry in a manner that is economically viable and takes into account Romania’s strategic orientations in the region in the medium and long term.
9. Romania should encourage energy investors to maintain their interest in the local energy industry, ensuring a stable and predictable business environment.
10. According to the majority of those who have submitted their views to DoE during the first stage of consultation and public debate, Romania currently has all the prerequisites to become a regional energy player.
The strategy will be implemented during 2014-2035, and its completion is scheduled for early October.