The Managing Authority for the Large-Scale Infrastructure Operational Programme (POIM) in the Ministry of European Investment and Projects announced the completion of the evaluation of applications for funding submitted in the second session of the call “Development of smart gas distribution networks”. 15 projects will connect 45 localities to the natural gas network and have a cumulative investment value of  180 million euros.

Within the limit of the available allocation, 15 of the 123 projects that qualified in the last evaluation stage, the technical-financial stage, were selected for funding. 243 projects were submitted under the two rounds of the POIM call, for a total amount of 2.56 billion euros, 10 times the maximum allocation of the call – 235 million euros. 105 applications were successful but did not receive the available funding and fall into the category of projects “not selected for funding”, while 3 were rejected.

The 15 projects that can be implemented with POIM funding come from 10 counties; 4 are from Hunedoara, and Bihor and Constanța counties have two projects each. There are eight projects with scores close to the last accepted one (over 70 points), most of them (5) from Suceava county.

According to official statements, the gas distribution network could also be extended under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) if the new pipelines can transport hydrogen mixed with natural gas.