
The final form of the national energy and climate plan, for which Romania was harshly criticized by the European Commission, will not be ready by June 30, 2024, as requested by the European authorities, said the director of the Ministry of Energy Elena Popescu. An Energy Ministry official also says it is unlikely that Romania will meet the renewable energy targets required by the European Commission.
The Commission’s plans do not coincide with the Romanian ones
context:
- The Romanian authorities were criticized. at the end of last year by the European Commission for the draft of the Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate Change 2023-2030 – PNESC (revised form).
- The Commission is not satisfied with the targets presented by Romania, such as those related to renewable energy, which also confirms the lack of policies and measures necessary for a green transition.
- The document, originally sent to the European Commission, showed that Romania wants to reach 34% of renewable sources in the final gross energy consumption by 2030. This goal is not to the liking of the Commission, which requires “increasing the ambition for the share of renewable energy sources to at least 41%”. This is in the context of the European Union’s mandatory renewable energy target of at least 42.5% in 2030, and a collective effort to raise it even to 45%.
- Romania was also accused of submitting the draft on October 31, 2023, three months late, giving Brussels authorities “limited time to prepare their assessment” and make recommendations.
Official of the Ministry of Energy: We are unlikely to reach 41% RES
An official of the Ministry of Energy does not believe that Romania will be able to achieve the goals set by the European Commission. Brussels authorities require at least 41% RES, while Romania is considering 36.2%.
“If we refer to the renewable energy target, which is the most talked about, here at PNIESC, it is 36.2% and we are trying to increase it with this renovation that we are doing based on the advice and recommendations of the Commission. I tell you all sincerity that it is unlikely to reach 41%, as follows from such a discussed formula, annex to the Directive,” said Olena Popescu,within the Energy Forum conference, organized by Freedom House Romania.
She explained that Romania is a country with a balanced energy balance and will go towards decarbonization, but natural gas is also taken into account. “We know that gas is a component that is currently the subject of a lot of debate. We argue that as a state that has its own source of natural gas, which neighboring states also rely on, we argue that it will continue to be part of this decarbonization process and especially in the process of replacing coal capacity,” Popescu said.
We remind you that while several European countries are trying to reduce gas consumption more and more, Romania will continue to rely on this resource for many years, especially since the development of gas from the perimeter of Neptune, the Black Sea, will begin in 2027.
Climate and energy plan will not be completed on time: “We need to be realistic”
The national plan on energy and climate change will not be revised until June 30, as required by the European Commission, Olena Popescu admitted. This required that the PNIESC reach its final form by June 30, 2024, during which the Romanian authorities, especially the Ministry of Energy, must clarify the aspects required by the European Commission and take into account the recommendations.
“We have received recommendations from the European Commission, which always say that we are not ambitious enough, so it is pressing, and we are trying to review and redo the National Integrated Energy Plan on climate change. We want to have a revised text of the Plan by the end of April. We have to be realistic and report exactly how things are going: we will not have the PNIESC, adopted by the Government’s decision on June 30, because the Regulation on the management of the Energy Union stipulates that we must hand it over,” said Elena Popescu.
The official of the Ministry of Energy specified that the final text at the extended stage of the strategic environmental assessment may be ready by this date. “As you know, the strategic environmental assessment procedure is a long-term procedure. She goes through all the procedures of discussions and analyzes by consultants working at the Ministry of Natural Resources. When we have an environmental opinion, only then will we be able to adopt the revised PNESC by the government’s decision,” Olena Popescu also said.
Source: Hot News

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