The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) MPs will submit a simple motion on the issue of obstructing the operation of hydroelectric power plants started before 1989, MP Valeriu Munteanu announced on Monday, inform Agerpres.
"AUR will submit, in the coming days, to the Chamber of Deputies, a simple motion entitled 'Weakening Romania's energy security through environmental policies that obstruct the commissioning of hydroelectric power plants started before 1989]. In 2025, Romania became a net importer of electricity (...) and prices among the highest in the European Union. This vulnerability directly affects citizens' bills and economic competitiveness. The drama intensified with the increase in VAT from 19% to 21% in August of this year. Instead of completing the hydroelectric power plants started before 1989, already over 75% completed, declared by Emergency Ordinance no. 175/2022 as projects of major public interest, the Ministry of Environment is blocking procedures, delaying approvals and sending public messages of deterrence. More than that, the Supreme Council for Country's Defense decided through successive decisions in 2022 and 2025 that the completion of these hydroelectric power plants is a national security objective," the AUR deputy told a press conference held at Parliament.
According to him, "the recent statements of the Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu, according to which "the four hydroelectric power plants from the communist period can be replaced with photovoltaic parks eight times cheaper", ignore the role of hydropower in energy security, which offers balancing services, life span, resilience to weather conditions, protection against floods".
"Concrete cases of obstruction: the Rastolita Hydropower Plant, almost completed, blocked by litigation supported by NGOs indirectly supported by the Ministry of Environment. The Jiu, Livezeni - Bumbesti, Olt, Cornetu Avrig, Surduc, Siriu, Pascani, Cerna, Motru, Tismana hydropower projects are blocked between environmental approvals and procedures. The minister of environment does not apply the mandatory framework of Emergency Ordinance no. 175/2022, intended to accelerate the commissioning of these objectives. USR has multiple antecedents in the field of blocking the national energy system. (...) Parliament is called upon to correct this situation, to impose an enforceable calendar for the completion of hydropower projects and to ask the Government to urgently resume work in accordance with the commitments made in this regard", the deputy said.
The motion will most likely be submitted this week.
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