The Ministry of Economy will promote two state aid schemes for energy-intensive consumers and the steel industry, both from government sources and European funds, to overcome the difficult economic situations faced by this industrial sector, Florin Spătaru, the Economy minister, announced on Thursday.
“I will talk with the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, and also with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă so that the situation of last year, when the industry reduced its production capacity due to the energy crisis, is not repeated! I don’t want to put out fires anymore! In 2024, we will have no more excuses!
Today, I had a meeting with the steel and aluminum producing industry in Romania, during which we discussed the future financial instruments, funds, which the Ministry of Economy is preparing both for overcoming the difficult economic situations that this industrial sector is facing, and for investments in green technologies. The Ministry of Economy will promote two state aid schemes for energy-intensive consumers and the steel industry, both from government sources and European funds. I assured those in the industry that they will be consulted when we work on the Applicant’s Guide, because a transparent debate will generate effective financial instruments for the beneficiaries,” Spătaru wrote on Facebook, according to Agerpres.
He emphasized that the industry once again raised the issue of the instability of contracts with energy suppliers, but also of the shortage of raw materials and the interruption of the supply chain.
“We are not targeting new investors, but the resilience and the need to consolidate the steel production industry already existing in Romania. I discussed with UniRomSider representatives about the main goal of the Ministry of Economy in the context of promoting state aid schemes.
The industry once again raised the issue of the instability of contracts with energy suppliers, but also of the shortage of raw materials and the interruption of the supply chain. That’s why I will have discussions in the next period with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and with the Minister of Energy in order not to be ‘surprised’ by the energy crisis which does not only affect domestic consumers, but especially large consumers”, wrote the Minister of Economy, after the meeting with representatives of UniRomSider – Union of Steel Producers.