Romania signed, along with Bulgaria and Greece, a joint declaration for regional energy projects, with investments in offshore wind power plants and hydrogen in the foreground, the Ministry of Energy announced on Friday.
According to a press release, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, signed the Declaration of Intent for the Development of a Pillar for Renewable Energy in Southeast Europe between the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, together with Rumen Radev, the Minister of Energy from Bulgaria and Theodoros Skylakakis, Minister of Energy and Environment of Greece.
The Minister of Energy was in Athens on Thursday and Friday, where the High-Level Meeting for Connectivity in Central and Eastern Europe is taking place.
According to the cited source, the declaration transforms the three countries into a strong regional energy pole, capable of attracting European funding for joint energy projects.
The declaration has three components, namely the joint development of wind energy projects at sea, in the Black Sea and in the Aegean Sea, including by accessing financing through the European Connection Facility, the establishment of a regional center for renewable hydrogen through the participation of authorities, transport system operators and industry, also accessing financing through the European Connection Facility and the joint development of cross-border electric vehicle charging infrastructures.
“Our participation in this important forum represents Romania’s clear commitment to the energy security and sustainability of our region. We emphasized during the discussions the urgent need to reduce dependence on external energy resources, especially in the context of the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Our efforts combined in the diversification of energy sources and the consolidation of the interconnection infrastructure demonstrate our vision and determination to build a safer and greener energy future,” Sebastian Burduja said.
According to him, Romania is appreciated at the highest level, as a leader in the energy sector in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
“We have the resources, energy and determination to be an essential provider of security and prosperity for the entire region, and we are ready to play that role. The joint statement with Greece and Bulgaria is a first step. Whether we are talking about wind energy in the Black Sea or from the Adriatic Sea, about hydrogen, or about the network of charging stations for electric cars, we have common goals: to attract investments, to ensure an accelerated implementation of projects and to transform our economies and societies for a safer, more prosperous and more green”, said the Minister of Energy.
During the Athens Meeting, Sebastian Burduja also had a bilateral meeting with Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy.
“The main topics of discussion were the improvement of energy security in the region, the increase in the number, quality and impact of joint projects in the field of renewable energy, the integration of gases with low carbon emissions such as hydrogen and biomethane in the energy mix and the strengthening of interconnections for the gas transport network natural resources and electricity”, the press release states.