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Energy & Environment
Losses worth over 5m lei predicted for Astra Refinery
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Astra Romana Refinery estimates losses worth over 5 million lei in 2009, after having reported losses worth 8.9 million lei in 2008, according to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). The Ordinary General Shareholders Assembly approved the company's budget for 2009, which forecasts overall revenues worth 5.9 million lei and expenditures totalling 10.9 million lei. The company's turnover was of 8.3 million lei in 2008. Overall revenues stood at 11.77 million lei and overall spending at 20.73 ...
EU study sheds light on 'the water we eat'
Thursday, April 23, 2009
With overexploitation of water rife in agriculture, making farmers pay real prices for publicly managed irrigation systems could push them to avoid waste and adopt more sustainable practices, argues the European Environment Agency (EEA).While food is an absolute necessity for well-being and health, its production consumes a lot of water, which is "an equally vital resource," said the EEA, launching a new report on water scarcity in Europe. It argues that water use in agriculture is becoming ...
Veolia in push to 'de-hydrate' world economy
Thursday, April 23, 2009
To face the challenge of water scarcity, the world needs to 'de-hydrate' the economy, fight against waste and make better use of alternative resources like waste water, argued Antoine Frérot, chief executive officer of Veolia Water, in an interview with EurActiv."The first reason for scarcity is linked to urban growth and withdrawal of water from nature," Frérot said. "So, the first way will be to 'de-hydrate' our economy and our way of life by fighting against waste of water and by ...
MEPs give green light to further liberalisation of EU electricity and gas markets
Thursday, April 23, 2009
EU energy markets will become more competitive as energy companies will have to separate supply and production from transmission activities. The wide-ranging rules adopted by Parliament also improve consumer rights, strengthen the powers of national regulators and promote regional solidarity in the event of severe gas supply disruptions.Parliament backed by a large majority a compromise on the "third energy package" agreed between MEPs and the Council Presidency ahead of the EP's ...
Nabucco partners unveil gas pipeline timeline
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Construction of the EU-supported gas pipeline project Nabucco will begin in 2011, according to Reinhard Mitschek, managing director of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International. In an interview with Dnevnik, EurActiv's partner in Bulgaria, Mitschek gave more details of the consortium's plans.An intergovernmental agreement between the participating countries - Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey - is expected to be signed in June. "With coordination by the European Commission, we are ...
Romania’s Green House Progr Might Include Biomass As Alternative Energy Source
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Romania’s Green House program, aimed at stimulating the development of renewable energy equipment, might include biomass as an alternative to conventional heating sources, Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Saturday. Nemirschi said the Green House program will be implemented within the next couple of weeks. Speaking at a meeting with local authorities in Bistrita-Nasaud, Nemirschi said he had blocked the program’s implementation in January for “objective reasons,” but declined to ...
Electrica invests 395 mln lei in equipment and infrastructure
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Electrica SA plans to invest in 2009 approximately 395 million lei (some 91.86 million euros, editor's note) in electrical equipment managed by the branches and in the processing infrastructure, according to the press release sent by the company.As well, it will carry out connection works for new consumers, in the value of some 250 million lei (some 58.13 million euros, editor's note), this year.Electrica also plans to implement the Distribution Management System SCADA - DMS of monitoring ...
Power company E. ON Romania starts two leave-by-request programs to cut workforce
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Power company E. ON Romania agreed with the trade unions to start this month two programs to cut staff, one of voluntary leaves and the other of anticipated retirement, according to a document NewsIn obtained.The head of the union admitted such programs were started, but said there is no deadline to file requests.Each company employee received a letter of intent in this respect, the union leader said, adding nobody is forced to quit the job.The company explains the two programs by ...
Romania Ex-Environment Minister Wants New Law To Regulate Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Romanian former environment minister, democrat liberal Deputy Sulfina Barbu, has presented a proposal to amend the law on Danube Delta’s Biosphere reservation, aiming to increase fines and clarify the reservation patrimony’s situation.“Environment standards are not observed, local people are disfavored and the soft sanctions call for law infringement. All these are corrected under the new draft law,” Barbu said in a statement Monday. Barbu argued the merits of the proposal, saying the Danube ...
Pitesti Nuclear Fuel Plant to double production till 2014
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Nuclear Fuel Plant (FCN) - Pitesti, is to reach till 2014 a production of some 20,000 nuclear fuel bundles per year, practically meaning a capacity twice as much as the current one, FCN director Gheorghe Andreisaid on Friday. Production boost will be in line with the development project of units 3 and 4 going to be added to Cernavoda Nuclear Power Station. As such, in 2012, a number of 5,400 nuclear bundles will be made by FCN Pitesti, of which 4,560 will represent the initial charge for ...
Romanian Economy Minister Deems Mioveni Area Proper For New Nuclear Power Plant
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The southern Romanian area of Mioveni meets the criteria for the construction of the new nuclear plant, and the Nuclear Fuel Factory in this area is doubling its production capacity as of 2010 or 2011, according to Economy Minister Adriean Videanu. "The factory is ready to double production as of 2010 and 2011, for the 3rd and 4th nuclear reactors at Cernavoda, preparations are being made to double the fuel production," Videanu said after a visit at the factory with Premier Emil Boc.The ...
Second nuclear plant in Romania will be commissioned in 2025
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The second nuclear plant in Romania will be commissioned after 2025, five years later than foreseen by authorities, specialists declared.“The location study made will have to be considered later. Then there will be expropriations which last. It will also take some time to find partners to make the project and those who will build the plant,” representatives of Nuclearelectrica told NewsIn. In their turn, CEZ Romania representatives , a company involved in the project of units 3 and 4 of ...
Vestas to supply wind turbines in Romania, Italy
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems has received an order for a total of 76 units of the V90-3MW turbine for two projects in Romania. The order has been placed by EDP Renovaveis. The contract comprises supply, installation, a VestasOnline Business supervisory control and data acquisition solution, as well as a five-year service agreement. The first turbines are expected to be installed by the end of 2009. The total annual production of the two wind power plants will ...
Romania, Jordan cooperate on energy issues
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Romanian and Jordanian investors can cooperate on the investments in producing energy from renewable resources, officials of the two states said at the Jordanian Romanian Business Forum on Monday.'Romanian-Jordanian joint ventures could be set up to work together on such areas as energy, petro-chemistry, pharmaceutical industry, financial-banking services, tourism. The value of the commercial exchanges between Romania and Jordan is on an upward trend, having gone up to 35 ...
Memorandum between Romania and Jordan on environment protection
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Romania's Ministry of Environment signed on this Monday an understanding with the Government of Jordan in the environment protection and steady development field. Romanian Minister of Environment Nicolae Nemirschi and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali have signed this Memorandum.The cooperation agreement refers to fields as horizontal legislation - development and implementation of mechanisms and instruments of evaluation of the environment (impact ...
Videanu: IMF Wants Romania To Monitor State Subsidized Companies
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The International Monetary Fund asked Romania to monitor several companies receiving state subsidies, including coal mining company CNH, national uranium company and the Romanian Authority for Nuclear Activities, from the Economy Ministry’s portfolio, the minister in charge Adriean Videanu said.Videanu said Tuesday the Economy Ministry should inform IMF monthly on the companies’ monitoring. Ministerial sources told Mediafax last week that Romania’s Government will take ...
EU wraps up climate and energy policy
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The EU's Council of Ministers yesterday (6 April) adopted the final legal texts of the energy and climate change package of legislation negotiated by member states in December last year.The new legislation is intended to meet the EU's 2020 climate goals to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels and boost the share of renewables in the total energy mix to 20% by the same date.The 'package' is composed of six measures. The revision of the EU's flagship ...
Electrica wants Chinese partners for wind and hydro investments
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The largest state-owned energy company, Electrica, is planning to associate with Chinese investors to produce wind and hydro energy, and is engaged in discussions with several Chinese companies and banks, according to a declaration for Business Standard by the energy producer’s General Manager, Ioan Folescu, who recently returned from a visit to the Asian country.“We want Chinese partners to invest with us in Aeolian and hydro energy production, because they are the only ones less affected ...
Rompetrol earmarks 16 mln US dollars to monitor filling stations
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Rompetrol Downstream, the retail division of Rompetrol Group wrapped-up the works for the first command and monitoring center of the filling stations in Romania, earmarking over 16.3 million US dollars. “Rompetrol Command Center (ROC) is a first in Romanian oil industry, enabling real time monitoring and management of Rompetrol’s petroleum transport and distribution scheduling as well as coordination of activities of its filling stations. The new terminal will ensure a full quality control ...
Romanian Authorities To Decide In Sept On New Nuclear Power Plant’s Location
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Romanian authorities will decide on the location of the country's new nuclear power plant in September, also planning to start the project’s development sooner than 2020, as initially scheduled, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu told a news conference Tuesday."We want to start the project sooner than 2020," Videanu said, referring to the second nuclear power plant that is about to be build in Romania.Last year, the Romanian authorities announced their intention to build a new nuclear power ...