Christian Boucheau
This applies to companies that consume more than 50,000 MWh of electricity, according to Informat. As stated by Cristian Bușoi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, the main goal is to reduce evening consumption peaks and thereby avoid overloading the power grid.
Romania has declared a 30-day energy emergency following a sharp drop in electricity production. One of the key causes was a severe drought and critically low water levels in the Danube, which pose risks to the stable operation of the second power unit at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. This reactor accounts for about 10% of the country’s electricity generation, and its potential shutdown could significantly complicate the situation in the country’s power grid.
According to Bushoi, the authorities are counting on voluntary participation from the business sector. Businesses will be asked to adjust their production schedules, and companies with continuous operations will be asked to reduce their energy consumption during peak hours whenever possible.
The largest industrial consumers have already received the relevant notifications. The government hopes to work with the business community to develop a mechanism for voluntary consumption reduction to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the public.
At the same time, the authorities do not rule out stricter measures should the situation continue to deteriorate. Current legislation provides for the possibility of temporarily disconnecting large industrial consumers in the event of a serious electricity shortage.
According to Reuters, the authorities are simultaneously stepping up measures to stabilize the power grid. All available power plants have been advised to operate at maximum capacity, and hydroelectric plants will maximize their output during the evening hours. In addition, the commissioning of new generating capacity is being accelerated, and Bucharest is also counting on emergency electricity supplies from Ukraine during peak demand hours.
