Renewable energy projects worth some 7 ml euro completed under Rondine Program

Six projects worth a combined 30 million lei (some 7.1 ml euro) for the use of renewable energy received financing under the RO06 Renewable Energy Program (Rondine) funded as part of the EEA 2009 - 2014 Grants, shows data presented on Thursday by president of the Environmental Fund Administration (AFM) Cornel Brezuica at the program wrap up conference. 

In the opinion of the AFM head Romania stays among the world's most attractive renewable energies market and runs high chances to become an important energy actor in the region. 

"AFM's main goal is the development and financing of several categories of programs for Romania's sustainable development, capable of contributing both to the improvement of the environmental infrastructure and the narrowing of the gap that separates us from other member states. In recent years, AFM has financed from the Environmental Fund programs that have boosted the implementation and use of renewable energy sources for the installation of solar panels, wind farms, solar, biogas or biomass power plants, hydro and geothermal power plants. (...) Romania stays among the world's most attractive markets for renewable energy and runs chances to become an important energy actor in the region. The country's micro-hydropower and geothermal potential can provide the most important sources of renewable energy, in line with EU requirements. Six projects received financing under the RO06 Renewable Energy Program - Rondine that comes to end today, with disbursements amounting to about 30 million lei," Brezuica said. 

He added that EEA and Norway grants are an important tool for the development of key sectors such as Romania's economy and society, the protection of the environment, strengthening civil society, the judiciary, the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy, public health services. 

"EEA and Norway grants have already helped create, during the programming period that is about to end, an excellent platform for cooperation between Romanian public and private entities and donor countries, but there is potential for multiple cooperation among our countries, and I am convinced that the new programming period will help strengthen relations between Romania and donor states," said the AFM president. 

The Renewable Energy Program RO 06 was intended to finance the sustainable use of natural resources and the cut of greenhouse gas emissions by capitalizing on renewable energy sources, specifically on the hydropower and geothermal potential. 

In Romania, the Rondine program envisaged the financing of projects worth approximately 8 million euro and the allocation was as follows: 85 percent through the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009 - 2014 and 15 percent from the state budget (Environmental Fund).

AGERPRES.