The Romanian energy sector is old, polluting and inefficient and we need major investments in order to revive this segment which will otherwise become vulnerable in the future, said the minister of Energy Toma Petcu on Monday.

„We must see things as they are, because our responsability is huge. We have an old, polluting and inefficient energy sector and we have to be honest about it. From 100 energy units of staples only 15 make it to the final consumers. This disadvantage must be turned into opportunity”, he added.

He recalled asking all the companies – even those where the Ministry is not the majority shareholder, but has representatives in the Administration Board- to invest a minimum of 20% of the budget for 2017.

“I will personally check and even now, for the first 6 months, we will examine these companies though every state secretary who coordonates them, in order to check their investments rates. We will not be able to improve this sector without expenditures and if we do not follow the investment plan approved thourgh budgets”, said Petcu, quoted by Agerpres.

According to Toma Petcu, Romania has a strong advantage, namely a diversified and balanced energy mix that can cover domestic consumption and can be a factor of stability in the region.

In some areas we work with outdated and obsolete techonology, with high operating and consumption costs. As vigurous as the energy industry may seem, it can become just as vulnerable in the future,” he warned.

He also said Romania is disadvantaged by the new proposals for European directives, which are not conducive to the development of coal based energy production.

“The prospect of a new energy package which has been discussed by the European Commission is at least disturbing for Romania, and, if adopted in its current form, it will be felt especially in the coal manufacturing sector, which proves hereinafter indispensable for Romania during intensive winters or in times of drought.Today, as we speak, coal provides about one third of domestic consumption. At Brussels, Romania should strongly support that each state should establish its own mix, depending on its national resources”, added the ministry official.

In his opinion, traditional resources, especially coal, are not in competition with renewable resources, but are complementary.