The hydropower project in the Jiului Gorge, blocked seven years ago by several environmental NGOs, is being resumed

The hydropower plant project on the Jiul river will be resumed by hydroelectrica, after a Government decision established that the project is of public utility and national interest. 90% completed, the works were stopped in 2017 by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, at the request of several environmental NGOs.

The completion of the Bumbeşti-Livezeni project will ensure the injection into the National Energy System (SEN) of a quantity of clean electricity of about 259 GWh/year, energy that will cover the needs of over 85,000 households and that will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases by over 200,000 tons/year, according to a statement from Hidroelectrica, quoted by Agerpres.

According to the cited source, between April 28-30 there was a working visit and discussions with the authorities to obtain the construction permit in Bumbeşti-Livezeni.

“Between April 28-30, there was a working visit by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy, Marius Negru, to the development of Hidroelectrica at Bumbeşti Livezeni, he was accompanied by Bogdan Badea, CIO Hidroelectrica, by Marius Grecu – Plant Chief Engineer in Târgu-Jiu, as well as by other local representatives of the company. On the occasion of the event, at the initiative of the Secretary of State Marius Negru, representatives of the local authorities involved in the re-issuance of the building permit for the Bumbeşti-Livezeni hydro-energy development were invited to discussions, the purpose of the approach being to bring the parties involved to an agreement and to speed up the authorization process. Cosmin Popescu, president of the Gorj County Council, Alexandru Camui, chief architect of the Gorj County Council, Marin Şerban, director of the Jiului National Park Administration, Bogdan Lazie, director of the DRDP Timisoara approvals department, Gheorghe Enache, advisor to the Ministry of Energy, Nica Alexandru and Lucian participated Raban – Banat Networks”, the press release states.

The representatives of Hidroelectrica claim that, in the case of the Bumbeşti – Livezeni HPP project, the Bucharest Court of Appeal admitted on December 14, 2017, the appeal of some environmental NGOs and canceled the building permits issued by the county councils of Hunedoara and Gorj, the decision being definitive, although the works were already completed in a proportion of about 90%.

“The commissioning of the development is possible today under the conditions of the declaration of the project as being of public utility and national interest, through a Government Decision issued this year. Completion of the project will ensure the injection into SEN of a quantity of clean electricity of about 259 GWh/year, energy that will cover the needs of over 85,000 households and which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases by over 200,000 tons/year”, it is mentioned in the communication.

Publisher: RK

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