Constanta Becomes Romania’s Energy Hub

Constanta is becoming the energy hub of Romania and the Black Sea, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan announced. Constanta County is consolidating its position as a regional energy leader through integrated investments in clean energy production and modern infrastructure, https://energyindustryreview.com/ reads.   “Together with ANRE President George Niculescu, Transgaz CEO Ion Sterian, Constanta Mayor Vergil Chitac, and Deputy Mayor Costin Rasauteanu, we inspected the progress of work on the cogeneration plant in Constanta, an investment of over RON 740 million from NRRP funds and the state budget, which will generate 52 MW of electricity and 45 MW of heat, and is also ready to use green hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas. Work is progressing and will be ready next summer. We had detailed discussions with the management of Oil Terminal, the largest oil terminal in southeastern Europe, which is implementing two major projects: a 6,000-ton bitumen terminal with an annual throughput of approximately 100,000 tons, and a 10,000 cubic meter tank that will be ready this fall. We also returned to Petromidia, where the refinery’s cogeneration plant is one of the largest energy efficiency projects in the Dobrogea region in recent years,” the Energy Minister said.   The high-efficiency cogeneration plant for thermal and electrical energy production in Constanta (CPH) has an installed capacity of 97 MW, a total rated capacity of 52 MW of electricity and 45 MW of heat. The investment has a value of RON 743 million, including VAT, with a non-reimbursable amount of RON 270 million.   The investment will have multiple positive implications for the city: economic, through a significant reduction in fuel consumption, operating costs, and expenses; social, by increasing thermal comfort and improving the population’s access to the district heating system; environmental, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (CO2), reducing primary energy consumption and, automatically, reducing pollution.   The delegation also met with Sorin Viorel Ciutureanu, CEO of Oil Terminal, at the company’s headquarters to identify solutions for developing the company’s business and technical assistance for securing oil pipelines located in the vicinity of urban agglomerations. The agenda also included a meeting with the management of Rompetrol Energy – Midia on the cogeneration plant platform to analyze the status of the supply works in the National Natural Gas Transmission System through the Regulation and Metering Station (RMS) of the Rompetrol Energy – Midia Cogeneration Plant, Constanta County.   “Together with Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan and Constanta Mayor Vergil Chitac, we visited the construction site of the new CET in Constanta. It is a project that I am following closely, not only as president of ANRE, but also as a former prefect of this county and a resident of Constanta who is involved in the future of the city. We have seen an accelerated pace of work, proving that when there is funding, coordination and will, the project quickly turns from blueprint to reality. The new CET not only means modern infrastructure, but also energy security, efficiency and more predictable costs for the citizens of Constanta. It is a concrete step towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly heating system. Constanta needs projects completed on time and decisions made with the future in mind. That’s what leadership is all about, and today we saw that happening on the construction site. I am closely monitoring progress and will continue to support, within the limits of my mandate, investments that put Constanta on the map of energy modernization,” George Niculescu said in turn.   The project “Source of useful thermal and electrical energy through high-efficiency cogeneration in the municipality of Constanta”, financed by the NRRP, involves the construction of an efficient unit for the district heating sector. It complies with the latest European standards on energy efficiency, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation, offering flexibility in the use of renewable gases, including green hydrogen.   Constanta is thus establishing itself as a strategic energy hub, promising a sustainable and efficient transition to clean energy generation in the region.