EBRD investments in Romania increased to 707 million euros in 2024, up 7.44% from the 658 million euros injected into the local economy in 2023, according to a statement from the financial institution.
“The EBRD invested 707 million euros in Romania in 2024, with a record number of 44 projects. Romania’s results are part of the EBRD’s record investments of 16.6 billion euros globally, an increase of 26%. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested 707 million euros in 44 projects in Romania in 2024, a significant increase compared to the 658 million euros invested in 23 projects in 2023. The main focus was on supporting Romania’s green transition,” EBRD officials said.
“We are delighted with these strong results, a sign that, through its steadfast presence in Romania, the Bank is set to remain a key investor in the Romanian economy. The EBRD is mandated to support the growth of the private sector. In Romania, the private sector share of investment was 83 per cent, well above the average 76 per cent of investments going to the private sector across all EBRD regions,” said EBRD Head of Romania Victoria Zinchuk.
EBRD cooperation with private corporates, equity funds, banks as well as local municipalities remained strong in 2024.
Private sector transactions included a €40 million risk sharing with Banca Transilvania for Omnia Europe SA, launch of a supply chain financing with the initial €10 million program to finance Profi Rom Food SRL local suppliers, €10 million equity investment in La Cocos, equity investment into AROBS Transilvania Software SA and a number other debt and equity transactions signed during the year.
In the municipal sector, the Bank contributed €75 million in regional projects. This included co-financing alongside the EU for water and wastewater investments in four counties (Bacau, Constanta, Iasi and Braila), as well as buildings energy efficiency projects in the City of Craiova under the Bank’s Green Cities Framework.
But it was Romania’s growing ambition to implement EU green programmes, such as Fit for 55 and REPowerEU – which aim for 38 per cent of the country’s final energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2030 – that unlocked significant additional investments in 2024. The EBRD supports Romania to reach this milestone, both by providing financing to bankable green investments and by offering support to the Romanian authorities to implement policies supporting stronger private sector participation in green energy investments
In 2024, the EBRD financed nearly 1GW of renewable capacity in Romania. These investments, amounting to over €180 million from our own funds, have further mobilised almost €1 billion of private and public finance.
Energy-related deals included: €46 million for Urleasca Wind Farm; taking an equity stake in regional energy company Premier Energy; €15 million to regional renewable energy producer Photon Energy; €32 million for Vifor onshore wind project; €100 million RON equivalent for electricity distribution network upgrades; providing construction bridge finance of €12.2 million to solar firm Danube Solar Five for solar power plants in Dolj County; and providing half of a €110 million financing package for solar plants at Iepuresti and Ghimpati.
To address energy price volatility, the EBRD supported the design and implementation of Contracts for Difference (CfD) renewables auctions scheme, with the first tender for up to 1.5GW successfully awarded in 2024. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Energy was signed in December 2024 on implementing the second RES CfD tender and on designing storage support schemes and auctions as well as implementing reforms required to integrate storage capacities in energy markets.
As a result, green economy financing amounted to 74 per cent of the Bank’s investment volume in Romania in 2024, higher than the 58 per cent recorded across all EBRD regions. Projects signed in 2024 in Romania are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year.
The results achieved in Romania form part of a record year for the EBRD overall. The Bank, which operates in central and eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, saw total investments rise to €16.6 billion in 2024, a 26 per cent rise from an earlier record of €13.1 billion in 2023.