Renewables

Romania’s Hidroelectrica to pick contractor for Nehoiașu 2 hydropower project

Romania Hidroelectrica contractor Nehoiașu 2 hydropower

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Published

March 26, 2026

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Published:

March 26, 2026

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Under a new tender, Hidroelectrica is selecting a company for the supply and installation of the equipment for the Nehoiașu 2 hydropower plant. The site for the 55 MW facility, which is nearly finished, is within a hydroelectric cascade on the Buzău river in Romania. The developer earmarked EUR 49.5 excluding value-added tax.

Hidroelectrica is entering the last stretch of its Nehoiașu 2 hydropower project, which is 85% done. Within a wider investment push, in the Surduc-Siriu complex, the state-controlled utility has issued a call for the design, supply, installation, commissioning of mechanical and electrical equipment for the facility.

The task includes staff training and the expansion of the 110 kV transformer station for the Surduc-Siriu hydropower development. The contractor will also be responsible for software, protection and telecommunications infrastructure. Estimated at EUR 49.5 million excluding VAT, for 55 MW, it would be a turnkey deal.

Nehoiașu 2 to complement 76.5 MW cascade

Following the selection, the period of implementation is 44 months. The complex spans the counties of Buzău, Vrancea and Covasna. Hydropower plants on the Buzău river north of Bucharest were completed by 1990. They are Nehoiașu 1 (42 MW), Cândești (11 MW), Vernești (11.8 MW) and Simileaska (11.7 MW), stretching down to the city of Buzău. Surduc-Siriu encompasses the rivers Bâsca Mare and Bâsca Mica as well.

“We continue to invest in strategic projects, in the development, diversification and hybridization of the portfolio so as to ensure the transition to a sustainable energy system”, Hidroelectrica’s Chief Executive Officer Bogdan Badea stated. The deadline for bids is October 13.

Nehoiașu 2 would feature a 55 MW Francis hydropower turbine and generate 152 GWh per year.

Additional obligations for guaranteeing ecological flow

Right on the tender launch day, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests issued the draft environmental approval for the Surduc-Siriu endeavor, for the Bâsca Mare river in the counties of Buzău and Covasna. The site for Nehoiașu 2 is on the Buzău, upstream from Bâsca Mare.

The document includes more measures for the protection of the environment and the communities in the area than initially proposed. The developer needs to ensure an ecological flow in the Bâsca Mare downstream of the Surduc dam. A forthcoming study would cover the necessary works to avoid damage and maintain access to water to residents.

The ministry said the Nehoiașu 2 reservoir would have 400,000 cubic meters of capacity.

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