Electricity imports increase in 2024, mainly due to maintenance of some production units

 Romania's electricity imports increased by 60% this year compared to the previous year, mainly due to the maintenance activities of some production units, such as the capacity at Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, Dan Dragan, secretary of state in the Energy Ministry, told a specialized event on Wednesday.He was asked what is the reason for the 60% increase in electricity imports in 2024 and the 11% decrease in production."If we look at the total annual volume, the import has increased mainly on account of the maintenance activity of production units - and here we are referring to significant capacities, such as the one at Cernavoda. On the other hand, we have to take into account the very low volumes of water that were available during this period - and we are referring in particular to the production capacities at the Iron Gates. At the same time, we also have to take into account the lower production of capacity using solid fossil fuels, which is caused by the need for maintenance work on equipment. We also have to take into account the fact that markets are interconnected and, when a price in an adjacent market is lower, the trend is that the energy from the market where the price is lower will go towards balance in another market," mentioned Dan Dragan, at the Future Energy Europe Summit, 4th edition, organized by Club Antreprenor and Ziarul Pozitiv.The secretary of state expressed the hope that all the capacities that are being implemented, under construction at the moment, whether independent producers or industrial prosumers, will be seen on the market, starting next year.At the same time, he was asked by journalists if there is a risk of generalized blackouts, pressure on the system, due to very high imports, as mentioned in a project of the Ministry of Energy regarding the Mintia power plant."From the point of view of the supply, of the security of supply to end consumers, whether they are domestic or industrial, there is no risk at the moment. There is no such risk because Romania is interconnected with other countries and, if we follow the Transelectrica website, we see that there is a balance, moments when Romania is a net exporter, due to wind power or photovoltaic production. There are times when Romania is a net importer. It is normal that, in an economic activity, there is this bi-directional flow. (...) There is no risk at the moment of interruption of electricity and gas to consumers. Such risk did not exist even when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. This is being very well monitored and managed in Romania, including with colleagues from Transelectrica, from the National Energy Dispatcher - and there is no such risk at the moment," explained the secretary of state.In his opinion, representatives of the Energy Ministry referred to this risk because they are working on different scenarios and possibilities, as in any economic activity.