News

Infringement procedure over micro hydro plants

Published

June 18, 2015

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

June 18, 2015

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

The European Commission (EC) is initiating an infringement procedure against Romania over the micro hydropower plant projects underway on the Dejani-Lupșa and Vistișoara rivers on the northern slope of the Făgăraș mountains, WWF-Romania said, Act Media agency reported.

In a release, the environmental advocacy and restoration organization states that it has been informed about this move in a June 3 official letter from the European Union body. WWF-Romania representatives told Agerpres agency that the executive institution had informed the authorities in Bucharest that on May 28 legal action would be pursued.

“From information that we hold, the infringement procedure also targets the destructive projects on the southern slope of the Făgăraș mountains, on the Capra and Buda rivers. Confirmation from the European Commission comes a year and a half after WWF filed two formal complaints to the commission, signalling a number of systemic violations of European and national legislation on water and biodiversity, in what concerns the authorization of constructions and their location in protected areas of European interest (Natura 2000),” details the WWF-Romania release.

According to the organization, the initiation of such a procedure follows some far-reaching steps Romania failed to respond to. According to WWF-Romania, other projects have been illegally approved for the Alb river in Retezat mountains, and Bistra Mărului, Şucu and Olteana rivers in Țarcu mountains, where company SC Alset Energy SRL proposed two projects with two MHPs each. In a statement, WWF calls for the urgent intervention of the Ministry of Environment in these cases, Romania-insider.com reported.

Related Articles

GGF loan Lovcen banka Montenegro green portfolio

GGF provides loan to Lovćen banka in Montenegro for its green portfolio

12 February 2025 - The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) has established a partnership with Lovćen banka in Montenegro by signing a loan agreement of EUR 3 million

croatia koncar helb purchase contract

Croatian Končar taking over local engineering firm HELB

11 February 2025 - Končar agreed to acquire fellow Croatian engineering firm HELB, with 35 years of experience in the power infrastructure sector

Bulgaria ESO European balancing platform PICASSO

Bulgaria’s ESO joins European balancing platform PICASSO

11 February 2025 - Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator became the first TSO in Southeast Europe to connect to cross-border balancing platform PICASSO

Turkish companies solar power market Romania

Turkish companies expand presence in solar power market in Romania

11 February 2025 - Turkish oil refiner Tüpraş and joint venture Defic Globe, controlled by YEO, have published updates on their operations in Romania