Romania not yet ‘super green’ in long term energy aims, says Bankwatch
January 29, 2016
Romania can access EUR 30.6 billion in 2014-2020 through five European funds initiatives, and authorities are interested in a high level of absorption, though complementary programs developed by the government are practically non-existent, a Bankwatch Romania press release announces. The statement comes as the CEE Bankwatch Network has released its “Climate’s Enfantes Terribles” Report.
Romanian Court Rejects Environmental Permit for Coal Mining Expansion
December 15, 2015
Last week the Bucharest court annulled the environment permit for the felling of another 159 hectares of forest in Gorj country, effectively preventing the expansion of the Rosia lignite mine, said the Prague-based environmental NGO, CEE Bankwatch. …
COP21 : la Roumanie respire mieux depuis la fin du communisme
December 11, 2015
Marquée par un demi siècle de productivisme forcené au temps du communisme, la Roumanie fait aujourd’hui figure de bon élève dans la lutte contre le changement climatique. Entre 1989 et 2013, Bucarest a fait chuter ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre de 65%. Mais cela est surtout dû à la désindustrialisation accélérée plus qu’à une politique environnementale volontariste. Explications.
Romanian environmental inspectorate orders closure of two coal plants operating outside EU pollution laws
June 30, 2015
Last week the Environmental Inspectorate in Hunedoara, Romania demanded the closure of two thermal power plants at Mintia and Paroşeni, because neither of the units complies with air quality requirements of the EU’s Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD). Hunedoara Energy Complex, which manages the Mintia and Paroşeni plants, has challenged the decision in court.
Victories piling up: 130 more hectares of forest saved from lignite mining in Romania
March 12, 2015
Bucharest – A Romanian court has accepted a petition filed by Bankwatch Romania and Greenpeace Romania, and cancelled the environmental permit which allowed cutting down 130 hectares of forests – equivalent to approximately 260 football pitches – to make way for the expansion of the Pinoasa lignite open pit.
Romanian government is seeking financial support in China for time travel into a lignite past
September 3, 2014
The renewables capacity installed in Romania has grown tenfold in the last five years and constitutes 23 percent of Romania’s installed energy capacity. Still, the government is pushing for new lignite-fired power plants.
Forests sitting on lignite saved in Romania
August 14, 2014
Bankwatch and Greenpeace won a court case* in Romania this week, which will effectively prevent 59 hectares (the equivalent of 118 football pitches) of forest from being destroyed by the expansion of one of the open-pit coal mines that supplies Rovinari, one of the largest coal plants in Romania.
Enel drops coal power plant project in Romania
November 11, 2013
After a five year planning and permitting process, and citing economic reasons, Italian energy giant Enel announced last month that it will not now be moving forward with a coal-fired power plant project in Romania. The company had been working on the project – a proposed 800 MW facility to have been sited in Galati, at an estimated cost of EUR 1 billion – since before the outbreak of the economic crisis, since when progress has been slow.
The many faces of coal subsidies. A glance at Romania.
May 29, 2012
The case of two Enel investments in Romania illustrates how subsidies for coal power can be ambiguous, but provide very concrete disincentives for investments in renewable energy.