Energy production is balanced, although the flow on the Danube is the lowest in the last 32 years

The current situation in terms of electricity production in Romania is balanced, although we have the lowest flow on the Danube in the last 32 years, declared on Thursday, in a press conference, the Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan.

“Today we had a first meeting of the National Energy Command, together with all the factors involved in this subject. The main topic was the preparation for the winter in terms of natural gas and, most importantly, given the weather conditions in Romania today, the situation regarding the production of electricity at the national level.

We are currently in a balanced situation, although we have the lowest flow on the Danube in the last 32 years and the meteorological outlook shows that only in November will we have an increase in precipitation to balance Romania’s hydrological system. On the other hand, those from Hidroelectrica assured us that there are currently sufficient deposits in the reservoirs to balance, when necessary, the energy system. In the hydro segment, production is around 5,714 megawatts, of which 31% from photovoltaics, 22% nuclear, 18% coal, 14% hydrocarbons, 10% hydro, 2.28% wind and the rest biomass and storage facilities”, said Ivan, at the end of the Energy Command.

He added that, from a practical point of view, the ultimate goal is to increase production capacities in terms of electricity. At the same time, the Energy Chief argued that the authorities must ensure that there is enough gas, at a good price, to get through the coming winter.

“Having a harder winter in 2024 to 2025, which automatically meant an increased consumption by over one billion cubic meters. We are preparing for the winter of 2025 to 2026, with a forecast of a fairly consistent increase in the need for natural gas. Next week we will have a new meeting at the Ministry of Energy with all the factors involved to ensure a schedule, with very clear responsibility of each, that we will have enough gas at a good price, without increasing the price of gas for the winter of 2025 to 2026. Also, very important to maintain a balance is to enter new production capacities in the next year and a half, and the projection we made, analyzing all the data we have at the level of the Ministry of Energy, together with companies in which we are currently sole or majority shareholders and plus the private market, we are talking about a total installed capacity in the next year and a half of approximately 1,591 megawatts. The largest share comes from solar energy, almost 1,000 megawatts, from storage over 200 megawatts, from wind energy 53 megawatts and from hydrocarbons 357 megawatts”, the minister said.

According to the official, even if the average flow of the Danube is currently at a minimum of the last 32 years, of 2,100 cubic meters/second, based on all forecasts, there is no question of the Cernavodă reactors stopping.

“On the other hand, Hidroelectrica is prepared with storage in reservoirs, which is at over 94% of the national capacity, to intervene when there is a peak in consumption and to operate during this period, especially between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Obviously, the hazard can occur at any time, but we want to be prepared and we are preparing for winter as well. We are thrifty people, so to speak, and we do not let time pass, let’s come in September to prepare for winter. We are already talking about Romania’s gas stocks. One of the potential risks that my colleagues presented to me is vegetation that can short-circuit high-voltage lines. Together with my colleagues, I prepared an address to all energy suppliers, distributors and transporters, informing them that they have a maximum period of 90 days in which to present the work schedule in order to avoid endangering these networks. More precisely, the vegetation should not come into contact with the networks,” said Bogdan Ivan.

Asked about the situation of Romania’s energy imports during this period, the Minister of Energy pointed out that, while consumption is “somewhere around 6,000 megawatts”, production is at an average of 5,700 – 5,800 megawatts in the last month, and the difference of about 200 megawatts is imported “obviously at a not very good price”.

“But if we compare it to the same period last year, it is a better situation from this point of view, because it is a very small quantity that we import. For this reason, we are now financing through the PNRR and the Modernization Fund, the increase in energy storage capacities”, explained the Minister of Energy.

In this context, the dignitary mentioned that Transgaz announced to him, on Thursday, the completion of the Tuzla – Podişor gas pipeline, which will connect and take over the gas reserves from Neptun Deep, an investment of 500 million euros.