Romania: Gas projects of national interest enable investors entrance in property without landowners consent

Published on 13. July 2016., SEE Energy News

According to a draft emergency ordinance proposed by the Romanian Ministry of Economy, the projects of national importance in the field of natural gas can be implemented without the approval of landowners, on whose land the pipelines would be built.

The proposal says that gas infrastructure could be build on non-state property even if landowners do not agree to that. Moreover, if the landowners refuse to provide access to their land to the companies which are in charge of the construction of gas infrastructure, the police will provide help in order to enable the companies to carry out their works.

Eligible projects include gas interconnection between Romania and Bulgaria and gas pipeline project connecting Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria (BRHA pipeline). 528 kilometers long Romanian section of BRHA gas pipeline will be developed by natural gas transmission system operator Transgaz and it is estimated that the construction will cost some 560 million euros. The European Commission has already allocated 179 million euros for financing this project, which construction should start in early 2017, transmits Serbia-energy.eu