Hidroelectrica complains and pressures the energy regulator ANRE over its decision to ban electricity exports directly to EU markets, instead state producers are instructed to follow ANRE instructions that all surplus have to be offered at power exchange OPCOM.
Public power producers lose tens of millions of euros every year because of export limitations on electricity for them, Remus Borza said, Euro Insol representative at Hidroelectrica.
„In 2012, I have switched off the „wise guys” from Hidroelectrica, denouncing the contracts with energy traders, while the Romanian state, through an abusive interpretation of ANRE officials, served a monopoly on a platter for the same wise guys, namely energy export monopoly. In 2014 we mentioned an export of 8.7 TWh, and in 2015 an export of over 10 TWh. If we add a difference of 2-3 euro to the exported energy, appears that every year the energy producers, either Nuclearelectrica, Oltenia Energy Complex or Hidroelectrica, were widowed of tens of millions of euros, money which instead of entering the Romanian state companies’ pockets, have entered into those pockets”, Remus Borza declared.
“We sued ANRE on this interpretation case, which has no legal foundation, because according to ANRE bureaucrats’ vision the only energy market at the level of EU that ensures transparency and competitiveness is of Victor Ionescu (Head of OPCOM, operator of power and gas exchange in Romania). Anywhere in the text of the 123/2012 Law the term OPCOM was not used. The legislator, indeed, establishes an obligation for all energy producers to offer the whole amount of energy in an undiscriminating, transparent and competitive market. Every of the other 27 EU energy markets ensure those requirements referred to the text of the law. Energy market of Romania, such as BSE, are two of the least liquid exchanges in Europe, so even more the other European exchanges energy provide better conditions for classic energy producers”, said Borza.
On this problem, President of ANRE, Niculae Havrileţ, added that the law is truly insufficiently clear, however it refers indirectly to OPCOM by the fact that is clearly requires the energy transactions to be carried out on a centralized market that is directly subject to ANRE. “As ANRE makes regulations which are subject only to OPCOM, it implies reference for our energy exchange”, said the ANRE president.