Energy in Romania

Electric power in Romania was provided by the Romanian Electric Power Corporation (CONEL). Energy used in electric power generation consisted primarily of nuclear, coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Of the 54,885 million kwhr of electricity generated in 2005, 22 percent came from nuclear plants then in operation, 54 percent from thermal plants (oil and coal), and 14 percent from hydroelectric sites. It was predicted in 2007 that the generation structure by the year 2010 would be 10.2 percent hydroelectric, 12.2 percent oil, 22.9 percent coal, 10.2 percent LNG, and 44.5 percent nuclear.

Romania has significant oil and gas reserves, substantial coal deposits and it has substantial hydroelectric power installed. However, Romania imports oil and gas from Russia and other countries. To ease this dependency Romania seeks to use nuclear power as an alternative to electricity generation. So far, the country's only nuclear reactor, located at Cernavodă, accounts for about 9-10% of the country's electricity production, while a second one is scheduled to go online in 2007 and two more to start construction the same year. Nuclear waste is stored on site at reprocessing facilities. Possessing substantial oil refining capacities, Romania is particularly interested in the Central Asia-Europe pipelines and seeks to strengthen its relations with some Persian Gulf states.

In the decade between 1989 and 1999, Romania saw decrease of its greenhouse gas emissions by 55%. This can be accounted for by a 45% decrease in energy use due to languishing economy, and a 15% decrease in its carbon intensity of energy use. In this period of time the carbon intensity of Romania's economy decreased by 40%, while Romania's GDP declined 15%. Romania's GDP has recovered significantly since then. [ [http://cait.wri.org Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) ] ]

Energy production

Hydrocarbons

Possessing substantial oil refining capacities, Romania is particularly interested in the Central Asia-Europe pipelines and seeks to strengthen its relations with some Persian Gulf states. With 10 refineries and an overall refining capacity of approximately convert|5504000|oilbbl/d|m3/d|abbr=on, Romania has the largest refining industry in the region. Romania's refining capacity far exceeds domestic demand for refined petroleum products, allowing the country to export a wide range of oil products and petrochemicals, -- such as lubricants, bitumen, and fertilizers -- throughout the region. [http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nte30277.htm Romania has the largest power sector in south-eastern Europe]

Energy producers were dominated by government enterprises, although privately operated coal mines and oil refineries also existed. Accordingly, Romania placed an increasingly heavy emphasis on developing nuclear power generation.

Hydroelectric power

Romania has an estimated total usable hydropower of 36,000 GW per year. [Nine O'Clock, issue 4013, page 7]

Wind power

Nuclear power

Romania placed a heavy emphasis on nuclear power generation. The country's first nuclear power plant, the Cernavodă Number One located near Cernavodă, opened in 1993. Two reactors were operational in 2007 when atomic power generation was an estimated 21,158 million kilowatts, or 23.1 percent of total electric power.

To cover the increasing energy needs of its population and ensure the continued raising of its living standard, Romania plans several nuclear power plants. Nuclear power proposals were presented as early as in the 1990s, but plans were repeatedly canceled even after bids were made by interested manufacturers because of high costs and safety concerns.

Besides the nuclear power plant in Cernavodă, which consists of two nuclear reactors, the Government has recently announced that it plans to build another nuclear power plant which would most likely be located near one of the major rivers in Transylvania. The new nuclear power plant would consist of two or four nuclear reactors and would have a total output of 2,400 MW. The feasibility studies will be ready by mid-2009 [ [http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20080619-512835 Nine O'Clock ] ] .

Romania has always chosen CANDU nuclear reactors because they use natural unenriched uranium which is cheap and available locally and because they can be refueled online. This has caused uneasy feelings to Romania's neighbors because they are ideal for producing weapons grade plutonium.

tatistics

From [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ro.html| CIA Factbook] :

Electricity:
* "production:" 63.91 TWh (2006)
* "consumption:" 57.21 TWh (2006)
* "exports:" 5.224 TWh (2005)
* "imports:" 2.321 TWh (2005)

Oil: [ [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=RO EIA - International Energy Data and Analysis for Romania ] ]
* "production:" 113,840 barrel/day (2006)
* "consumption:" 238,230 barrel/day (2006)
* "exports:" NA
* "imports:" 124,390 barrel/day (2006)
* "proved reserves:" 956 million barrels (2006)
* "refinery capacity:" 517,000 barrel/day (2006)

Natural gas:
* "production:" 11.22 billion m³ (2005 est.)
* "consumption:" 17.46 billion m³ (2005 est.)
* "exports:" 0 m³ (2005 est.)
* "imports:" 6.2 billion m³ (2005 est.)
* "proved reserves:" 96.4 billion m³ (1 January 2006)

Electricity - production by source:
* "fossil fuel:" 62.5%
* "hydro:" 27.6%
* "other:" 0% (2001)
* "nuclear:" 9.9%

Electricity (Gwh)

References

ee also

*Economy of Romania