Romania is joining forces with Bulgaria and Greece for regional energy projects aimed at investing in offshore wind farms and hydrogen, the Energy Ministry said. According to him, Romania is also interested in wind projects in the Aegean Sea. In addition, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burdugia, believes that Romania is “a leader in the energy sector in Central and South-Eastern Europe”.

More precisely, Minister Sebastian Burduja signed in Athens together with Rumen Radev, Minister of Energy of Bulgaria, and Theodoros Skilakakis, Minister of Energy and Environment of Greece, a declaration of intent for the development of a pillar of renewable energy in South Europe-East between the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.

Burduja: We have the resources to be an important provider of security and prosperity for the entire region

The declaration of intent transforms the three countries into a strong regional energy pole capable of attracting European funding for joint energy projects, the Ministry of Energy claims.

The application consists of three components:

• joint development of offshore wind energy projects in the Black and Aegean seas, including through access to financing through the European Connecting Facility;
• creation of a regional renewable hydrogen center with the participation of authorities, transport system operators and industry, as well as access to financing through the European Connection Facility;
• joint development of cross-border charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

“Romania is rated at the highest level as a leader in the energy sector of Central and South-Eastern Europe. We have the resources, the energy and the determination to be an important provider of security and prosperity for the entire region, and we are ready to play that role (…) We are talking about wind energy from the Black Sea or the Adriatic Sea. goals: investment attraction,” Burduya said.

Romania is still far from wind projects in the Black Sea

Only at the end of last year, the Romanian government approved a draft law on the development of wind energy in the Black Sea. However, there are still many steps to be taken before investments in the Black Sea can actually be made. The draft law is currently in the parliamentary procedure.

The draft law provides that no later than the end of March 2025, the Government will approve a list of offshore wind perimeters, which can be transferred to a concession, determined by topographical coordinates, based on the proposal of the Ministry of Energy.

Also, by June 30, 2025, the Government shall approve specific rules on the concession procedures of offshore wind turbines, the amount of royalties and taxes, as well as, in appropriate cases, the support scheme, at the request of the Ministry of Energy.