Romania was, last year, a net importer of electricity, as imports increased by 74%, while exports decreased by 34%, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics, published on Wednesday. Thus, imports amounted to 5,110 TWh, and exports, 3,592 TWh, resulting in a negative balance of 1,518 TWh.

Romania’s final electricity consumption was of 55.2 TWh last year, 1% lower than the level recorded in 2018, according to Agerpres. Public lighting increased by 10.6%, population consumption was higher by 21.9%, while consumption in the economy decreased by 6.3%.

Electricity production was 59.3 TWh, 7.8% lower than the previous year. The production in hydroelectric power stations decreased by 12.2%, and in conventional power plants, by 11.2%. The energy produced by wind and solar power plants grew each with 3% more than in the previous year.

The own technological consumption in networks and stations was of 5.6 TWh, lower by 6%.