The National Energy Strategy adopted on Thursday establishes six clear directions for the development of the sector, namely energy security, clean energy, energy efficiency, accessibility and economic competitiveness, efficient markets, innovation and digitalization. The Executive adopted on Thursday the National Energy Strategy 2025-2035, with a perspective of 2050 – the first programmatic document of this kind passed by the Government in the last 17 years.
“I am glad that, after approximately a year of consultations, of voluntary work, the Ministry of Energy managed to promote today, in the Government, the Energy Strategy of Romania until 2035, with a perspective of 2050. I note that, in recent years, there have been multiple attempts to adopt a new strategy. Consultants were even hired. It never succeeded. “Most of the time, it takes a handful of people who want to leave something behind to change things and to give this vision that Romania’s energy of tomorrow needs,” said Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja at the end of Thursday’s Government meeting.
According to him, Romania needs secure energy, competitive energy that is accessible to Romanians and Romanian companies, clean energy.
“Romania’s energy strategy is the following: we need secure energy, we need competitive energy that is accessible to Romanians and Romanian companies, we need clean energy. In this order of priorities, the energy transition to preserve the country’s energy security means the gradual transition from coal-fired to gas-fired, less polluting groups – and in the medium and long term, from gas-fired to nuclear energy. So, these are the major priorities. There are six strategic objectives, you can probably anticipate them: energy security, energy efficiency, physical access to energy for all consumers, financial accessibility and economic competitiveness, therefore including the completion of the electrification process of Romania. We, in the recent period, have managed through our own efforts, with the support of the Smart Energy Association, to electrify houses in the Apuseni Mountains area, which had never had access to electricity,” added Burduja.
The Minister of Energy also referred to efficient energy markets, innovation, digitalization and cybersecurity, which are “increasingly important for the energy sector.”
“I would also emphasize economic and social equity for regions and citizens, as well as technological neutrality, a principle that Romania has always supported in Brussels. This means that each country is free to use its own energy mix, the mix that gives the best results for citizens and companies, as well as supporting storage and I will return to this very important subject,” the minister said, quoted by Agerpres.
The new objectives are guided by clear principles, such as prioritizing security of supply, developing the circular economy and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By adopting this strategy, Romania demonstrates a clear commitment to a secure, accessible and clean energy future. It is an important step towards transforming the energy sector into a pillar of economic development and a factor of regional stability, a statement from the Ministry of Energy reveals.
According to the document, Romania undertakes to protect critical infrastructure, reduce dependence on imports by using its own resources and digitalize the sector. At the same time, Romania’s energy security includes supporting the Republic of Moldova.
The second direction aims to ensure the lowest possible prices for consumers, both households and industrial, preventing energy poverty and supporting economic competitiveness. According to the ministry representatives, Romania continues to be a European leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining a balance between security, affordable prices and the green transition, which is the third direction.
“Romania is facing global and regional pressures, including market fluctuations, climate change and the effects of the war in Ukraine. The strategy offers solutions through investments in modern technologies, strengthening the supply chain, digitalization and innovation. The document is the result of a year of intensive work by experts from the Ministry of Energy, together with companies, public institutions, civil society and members of the Honorary Council for Energy. Unlike previous attempts, the Strategy did not involve external consultancy and did not generate additional costs for the public budget,” the statement added.
