On Thursday, the government approved the creation of a program to support administrative-territorial units at the level of which centralized heat energy supply systems based on coal, fuel oil or biomass operate.

• “We initiated this regulatory act in order for the population, hospitals, educational institutions and other public institutions to receive heating next winter in conditions when at the international level the prices for both electricity and natural gas, as well as other types of fuel used for thermal energy production”, Development Minister Ceke Attila said on Thursday.

On the basis of assessments provided by local state authorities to ensure the continuity of the provision of utility services for the supply of heat energy in centralized systems and to establish equal treatment for operators who produce heat energy based on natural gas and those who use coal, fuel oil or biomass, the proposed the budget is 250 million lei.

• WHICH PLACES CAN APPLY FOR THIS MONEY

The Ministry of Development will pay, within the limits of the amounts allocated from the state budget for these purposes, to administrative and territorial units in the order of appeal up to 50% of the amount invoiced for the purchase of coal and fuel. of oil or biomass (including VAT) produced during October 2022 – March 2023 by a thermal energy producer.

To ensure financing in proportion to the monthly need for fuel for the production of thermal energy for the period October 2022 – March 2023, applicants submit to the MDLPA together with the first application information on the estimated monthly volumes of fuel used, as well as the estimated values ​​related to these values.

Depending on the financial capacity in the MDLPA budget and to ensure a proportional distribution for all beneficiaries, the requested amounts will be allocated by order of the Minister, including in installments, to ensure monthly funding for all beneficiaries.

The Minister of Development reminded that for the cold season of 2021-2022, the ministry transferred 360.9 million lei to local authorities that operate district heating systems for the purchase of fuel, natural gas or fuel oil. After the completion of this program, the provisions of GEO 27/2022 came into force, limiting the final price charged by natural gas suppliers to 0.37 lei/kWh, including VAT, for thermal energy producers.

Thus, in the cold season of 2022-2023, the Ministry of Development this year supports settlements that have centralized power supply systems with thermal energy based on coal, fuel oil or biomass.

Potential beneficiaries of this program are 16 administrative and territorial units.