Ion Sterian, General Manager of Transgaz, asks Brussels to approve funding for the energy investment projects proposed by Romania

Transgaz, technical operator of the national gas transmission system, on Wednesday sent a letter to several senior European officials asking EU Member States beneficiaries of the Modernisation Fund to support the investment projects proposed by Romania.

The Romanian company’s request concerns investment projects submitted by Romania under the Modernisation Fund to be assessed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Investment Committee on October 25, 2023.

According to the letter, the projects submitted by Romania are of major importance for achieving the objectives of decarbonisation and security of natural gas supply for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine.

In total, Romania submitted seven projects for funding:

– Natural gas transmission pipeline to supply CET Mintia;

– Increasing Transgaz’s transmission capacity and the gas supply capacity of the Ișalnița Electrocentrale Branch and the Turceni Electrocentrale Branch;

– Jupa – Băile Herculane – Orșova – Prunișor natural gas transmission pipeline;

– Mihai Bravu – Siliștea DN 600 gas transmission pipeline and transformation into a piggable pipeline;

– Tetila – Horezu – Râmnicu Vâlcea natural gas transmission pipeline;

– Black Sea – Podişor gas transmission pipeline;

– Ghercești – Jitaru gas transmission pipeline.

According to Transgaz, Romania’s applications for the Modernisation Fund accurately reflect the direction of decarbonisation, maintaining the crucial element of energy security for the Eastern European region and the whole of Europe, the source concludes. Through the Modernisation Fund, Romania has already benefited from more than EUR 2.5 billion in funding for modernisation of the national energy infrastructure and transition to clean energy.

The letter, signed by the general manager of the company, Ion Sterian, is addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EC Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, the President and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank and the energy ministers of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Greece.