Increased Natural Gas Supply Capacity for Isalnita and Turceni Thermal Power Plants

The National Gas Transmission Company Transgaz will finance the construction of two gas supply pipelines for the Turceni and Isalnita thermal power plants, belonging to Complexul Energetic Oltenia. In this respect, an investment of more than RON 73 million has been approved to increase the transmission capacity and the security of natural gas supply of the Isalnita Electrocentrale Branch. It concerns the TN Hurezani – Bibesti – TN Turburea pipeline.

Safety will also be ensured at the undercrossing in the Gilort river area with the supply pipeline for the Turceni Electrocentrale Turceni – Tantareni pipeline. The aim will be to increase the transmission capacity and the security of the natural gas supply for the Turceni Electrocentrale Branch.

Transgaz will organize a tender for gas pipeline construction works on February 14, 2025.

At the Isalnita Thermal Power Plant it is planned to build a natural gas-fired generation unit with a capacity of 850 MW, in association with ALRO. Similarly, at the Turceni Thermal Power Plant, a 475 MW unit will be built in partnership with Tinmar Energy. These projects are part of the restructuring and decarbonization strategy of Complexul Energetic Oltenia.

We remind that in September last year, the Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja and the Director-General of Transgaz Ion Sterian signed the financing contract for “Increasing the transmission capacity of the NTS and the security of natural gas supply of the Isalnita Electrocentrale Branch (Dolj county) and the Turceni Electrocentrale Branch (Gorj County)”.

“By signing this financing contract, Transgaz reaffirms its firm commitment to continue to develop, modernize and expand the natural gas transmission infrastructure using grants. The project ensures the supply of natural gas necessary for the production of base load power for the two gas-fired power plants, 850 MW Isalnita and 475 MW Turceni, and is also part of the decarbonization process undertaken by Romania. We reiterate on this occasion once again the firm message addressed to the new leadership of the European Commission and to the commissioners responsible for the environment, climate change and energy to take into account that security of supply, diversification of energy sources, reducing energy prices and combating climate change all have a common denominator: natural gas and natural gas transmission infrastructure. Only by ensuring a significant level of funding for the natural gas transmission infrastructure, ready for green hydrogen, can the prerequisites for reindustrialization, decarbonization, lower energy prices and an increase in the quality of life of the population be ensured. By this investment, Transgaz achieves two more major objectives: increasing the security of natural gas supply for the South-East of Romania and creating the necessary conditions for the connection of the region’s localities to the National natural gas Transmission System, these developments of course allowing the supply of other domestic and industrial consumers in the area. The gas transmission pipelines to be constructed by Transgaz, CCGT Isalnita connection pipeline (Dolj County) – 0.610 km, TN Hurezani – TN Turburea gas transmission pipeline (Gorj County) – 24.165 km and Tantareni – Turceni gas transmission pipeline (Gorj County) – 11.055 km, have a total length of over 35.5 km, a DN 500 diameter and are designed for a pressure of 40 bar. They will cross two counties, allowing the connection to the natural gas network of 12 localities, meaning more than 42,000 citizens, 15,500 households, 82 educational establishments, 24 places of worship, 22 medical establishments and 11 cultural centres. This means improved quality of life for citizens and real opportunities for sustainable development for the local and national economy,” stated Ion Sterian on the occasion of the contract signature.

 

About the project

The project “Increasing the transmission capacity of the NTS and the security of natural gas supply of the Isalnita Electrocentrale Branch (Dolj County) and the Turceni Electrocentrale Branch (Gorj County)” with the support of the Ministry of Energy, was declared a project of national importance in the field of natural gas by Government Resolution 549/2023 and Government Resolution 551/2023.

The works for the natural gas transmission pipeline “Increasing the transmission capacity of the NTS and the security of natural gas supply of the Isalnita Electrocentrale Branch (Dolj County) and the Turceni Electrocentrale Branch (Gorj County)” are located outside the built-up area of the localities Hurezani, Vladimir, Saulesti, Aninoasa, Turburea, Filiasi, Tantareni, Branesti and Turceni in the counties of Gorj and Dolj. The pipeline is located in the counties of Gorj (RO 412) and Dolj (RO 413) in the South-West Region (RO41).

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