Although Hidroelectrica has completed the hydro power plant in Racovita, Sibiu County, on the Olt river, since 2013, it does not operate because of the lack of financing for a new railway bridge, says the Deputy of the German Democratic Forum of Romania (FDGR), Ovidiu Ganţ.
“You know that this is the discussion, with the hydroelectric power plant and the two CFR bridges at Podu Olt, that the hydro power plant cannot be operated, because the bridges would collapse, the water actually washes under the foot of the bridge and it collapses. It is confirmed that the hydro power plant will never be operational until a new bridge is built instead of the two existing ones. And that the Ministry of Transport has no money for this investment. Thus, if this investment is not performed, Hidroelectrica will not be able to put into operation the hydro power plant, built with a lot of money. This is by no means the fault of the current government or of the Grindeanu Government, but rather of the previous governments. If would be laughable if not cryable”, commented the German minority deputy, quoted by Agerpres.
The Minister of Transport, Alexandru-Răzvan Cuc, confirms that at present there is no money for the construction of a new railway bridge, which would not be endangered by the commissioning of the Racovita hydro power plant, according to a reply to a question asked, during a parliamentary procedure, by deputy Ovidiu Ganţ and published on the Chamber of Deputies webpage.
“In the absence of a special funding from the budget, for the safety related works of the two bridges or for the new two-way bridge, the funding sources available to C.N.C.F. C.F.R. S.A. do not allow employment in a project of this magnitude”, says the reply sent by the minister of Transport.
In order for the Racovita hydro power plant to function, the main lines must not be jeopardized on the Piatra Olt-Podu Olt and Brasov-Podu Olt-Sibiu railway. These two railway bridges cross the Olt river at a distance of less than a hundred meters between them and merge into the Podu Olt railway node. One of the bridges was built in 1897 and the other in 1940. A decree issued in 1989 stipulates, since then, that for the proper operation of the Racovita hydro power plant it is necessary to build a new railway bridge, for a double path, with new connections for it. The Minister of Transport says that since 1990 the beneficiary of the hydro power plant has begun its construction without ensuring that there is money to invest in the construction of the new bridge. Since 2005, the CFR Brasov Regional has drawn attention that the construction works of the runway of the Racovita hydro power plant threatened the two existing bridges.
The Racovita hydro power plant was inaugurated in December 2013 by Victor Ponta, prime minister back then. The Racovita Hydrotechnical Node is located downstream of the town of Avrig, on the right bank of the Olt river. The beneficiary of the objective is Hidroelectrica, and among the constructors are Energomontaj SA, Hidroconstructia and UCM Resita. The installed power of the hydro power plant is 35 MW, it has two Kaplan hydro-units and the fall is 13,50 meters.