The Energy Strategy developed by the Ministry of Energy in 2016 needs a sanction from the Ministry of Environment and in order to obtain it, six months of debate are required, therefore the project could be approved by the Government in the second part of this year, said on Wednesday Toma Petcu, the proposed Minister of Energy, in the hearings performed by the specialized committees of Parliament.
Toma Petcu received a favorable opinion by 40 votes in favor, 17 against and one abstention, after being questioned in the reunited committees for Economic Policy, Reform and Privatization, respectively, for industries and services in the Chamber of Deputies, the Commission for Economy, Industry and Services, the Commission for development and economic strategy, the Committee for regional development, management of the state assets and privatization from the Senate.
The nominated Minister of Energy was asked if he would promote the energy strategy performed last year by the Ministry of Energy.
“I read the current strategy developed by the Ministry of Energy. As I see it, they failed to approve it within the Government because, as the first strategy developed after 2007, a debate and an environmental sanction are required. The environmental approval would not have been possible to obtain in such a very short period, since it is a long procedure, with six months long debates, in order to get this environmental permit, “said Petcu.
In his opinion, the strategy can be perfected and can be improved in each area of activity.
“I believe that the current strategy can be improved. With this strategy we will come to the Government and then to Parliament, and then it will become a law; and will be perfected along this route. For sure, we will study it very carefully, so as to see whether there are areas that were not covered or not sufficiently covered, if there are measures which should be added to those already provided, and I’m sure there are. The strategy is a priority objective for us. From my point of view, this strategy is perfectable and can be improved in each area of activity”, said the nominated minister.
The Ministry of Energy has released for public debate in mid-December, the final draft of the Energy Strategy of Romania 2016-2030.
Toma Petcu graduated from the Faculty of Hydrotechnical Constructions, within the Technical University of Constructions from Bucharest (2001) and has a Masters Degree in Public Management (2006), according to the official website of the Chamber of Deputies.
From December 2007 to August 2008, he was head of the construction site SV Lotus Giurgiu. He was president of Board of Directors and general manager of S.C. AEP Giurgiu-Port S.A. Giurgiu, for the period August 2008 – March 2013 and President of the Board of Directors and general manager of the River Navigation Company Giurgiu, Giurgiu-Nav S.A. Giurgiu during the period September 2011 – March 2013.
In the period April to August 2013, he held the position of Director of the Insolvency Authority for the State Assets Administration (AAAS).
He was also subprefect of Giurgiu, between October 2013 – July 2014.
From December 2014 until May 2016, he was president of the National Agency for Environmental Protection.