Energy Administration and Institutions, Funds and Programmes
Public administration
Ministry of Economy and Commerce
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) (according to the Government Decision no. 738/2003 establishing its organizing and functioning) is responsible, inter alia, for drawing up the national energy strategy regarding to the energy sector evolution, such as power and thermal energy, hydroelectric and nuclear power, oil, natural gas, mineral resources, mine-geology fields.
Romanian Agency for Energy Conservation (ARCE)
ARCE is in charge of promoting energy efficiency at the national level. Responsibilities include energy efficiency policy making and programme implementation. ARCE (according to the GD no. 941/2002 establishing its structure and funcion) has legal personality, functioning, operational and financial autonomy being under the subordination of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. ARCE is financed from extra budgetary funds and allocation of funds from the state budget. The territorial structure of ARCE is based on 12 territorial branches in 2008.
In 2007 ARCE was involved in the implementation of a National Programme, which has its focuse on the decrease of the energy costs for the whole population by increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization. Furthermore, ARCE participated in 2007 in a working group to draft the Romanian Action Plan on Energy Efficiency related to the implementation of the EU Directive 2006/32.
The National Electricity and Heat Regulatory (ANRE)
ANRE, established according to the Law no.99/2000, is organized as an independent public legal person of national interest under the Prime Minister co-ordination. ANRE operates as per its own organisation and functioning regulation approved through government decision. Its mission is to create and implement fair and independent regulations to ensure an efficient, transparent and stable functioning of the electricity and heat sector and market while protecting the interests of consumers and investors.
ANRE issues, sets up and monitors mandatory regulations to be implemented at national level with a view to ensuring the proper functioning of the electricity sector and market in terms of efficiency, competition, transparency and consumer protection. ANRE is entirely financed from funds outside the budget through fees obtained for licenses, authorisations and other regulatory activities levied upon the regulated companies and through funds provided by international organisations, as per the legal provisions on public finances.
Green Certificates Market Operator (OPCOM)
OPCOM is a legal body which assures Green Certificates trading and determines the prices on the Centralized Green Certificates Market, performing the functions established by the Regulation for organizing and functioning of the Green Certificates Market (Order no. 15 / 2005 issued by ANRE ).
National Regulatory Authority in Natural Gas Sector (ANRGN)
ANRGN (according to the GO no. 41/2000 approved by Law no. 791/2001) is a public institution and legal body, which elaborates, applies and monitors the regulation system necessary for the natural gas sector and market function on efficiency, safety, competition, transparency and consumers and environment protection terms.
The financing of ANRGN, which comes entirely from extra budget funds obtained from fees for granting authorizations and licenses, has permitted ANRGN to develop its activity according to its own organization and function rule.
From January 1st 2007, together with the official EU integration of Romania, the domestic natural gas market was liberalised for all non-household consumers and from July 1st 2007 for all customers.
Romania's National Agency for Mineral Resources
NAMR was established in 1993 as the regulatory authority to administer the mineral resources of Romania and is under government subordination. After the establishment of this specialized authority for the gas sector (ANRGN), the competencies of the National Agency for Mineral Resources (NAMR) concerning gas were limited to the concession of exploitation blocks. NARM, in co-operation with ANRGN, sets up the transmission tariffs for natural gas.
NAMR is a competent authority which coordinates the mining operations under Petroleum and Mining Laws.
NAMR has the following responsibilities:
- to administrate and survey the romanian mineral resources, the national geologic fund, all national property;
- to compute, register and up to date all mineral resources of Romania in the Mining Book and Petroleum Book;
- to negotiate the terms and conclude agreements for the exploration and production of the mineral resources;
- to regulate the activities and operations on the basis of these or of any other agreements;
- to establish legal taxes, royalties and prices for prospecting exploration and production activities, as well as pipeline transport tariffs for hydrocarbons;
- to issue compulsory regulations and instructions for the mineral resources sector.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Water and Environment (MAPAM)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment (MAPAM) is responsible for the development of the general environmental policy and specific legislation related to water management and environmental protection. Responsibility for the implementation of the environmental policy at local level lies with local authorities.
In the context of increased decentralization, enhanced responsibilities were attributed to the 42 County Environmental Protection Agencies, which are responsible for environmental factors monitoring and are entitled to issue the environmental permits and authorizations.
In order to improve central and local inspection effectiveness, the Environmental Guard was set up. It is an environmental control body with legal personality, financed from the state budget and operating under the authority of the MAPAM.
The Inter-ministerial Committee for the coordination of environmental field integration into sectoral policies and strategies at the national level was set up with the aim of developing a unitary environmental policy. Its members are representatives of all ministries who analyze and approve all environmental policies, strategies and legislation, having an important role in promoting and updating the National Environmental Action Plan and assessing the progress of the National Prgramme for the Adoption of the Acquis.
In order to adopt the EU institutional structures, two objectives have been set, namely the establishment of 8 Regional Agencies for Environmental Protection and of the National Agency for Environmental Protection.
Energy related organisations
Romanian Energy Policy Association
APER is an independent professional organization (NGO, non-profit), established under EC SYNERGY programme. APER provides energy information and knowledge to decision makers and experts with respect to energy policy development and analysis, acts as an independent forum for exchange of experience & opinions, and supports business development in the energy & environment fields.
The Romanian Association for Energy Efficiency
SOCER is a technical and non-governmental association, with juridical personality, a professional body and a non-profit organization focusing on the efficient use of energy. Its activity is widely unfolded in Romania and it is oriented to help the Local and Regional Authorities, the state and private companies from all economic fields, public institutions and natural persons. By its initiatives, SOCER is sustaining the Romanian Agency for Energy Conservation (ARCE), the governmental body for the energy efficiency matters.
ALGEPEM Iasi (Local Agency for Efficient Management of Energy & Environment Problems)
The activities of ALGEPEM Iasi are coordinated by a Management Board which includes Managers of all Local Public Services Companies (Electricity, Gas, Transportation etc) and specialists/consultants in the field of energy and environment. The objectives of the agency include promoting energy efficiency on local level, realising an Energetic Master-plan for the city of Iasi, modernising of the heating system; promoting new and renewable energy sources; organising special events - e.g.: "In town without my car" , etc.
ENERO - Centre for Promotion of Clean and Efficient Energy in Romania
ENERO (website in Romanian language) is a non-governmental, non-profit R&D organisation active in the energy field. The ENERO team brings together highly experienced experts in the energy field, including economics and legislation, with wide experience in the management of the international complex projects and in consulting activities.
The objectives of ENERO are to develop the efficient and clean use of energy, renewable energy sources and to support new and innovative energy technologies, to promote the alignment to the European Union acquis in the energy field.
Since 2000, ENERO was selected as member of the European OPET Network co-ordinated by DG TREN, covering energy efficiency and renewables fields, at national level. The main activities are:
- Consultancy, market studies and research services in the energy field;
- Promotion of the results of European/international energy projects and programmes, with targeted information retrieval and dissemination;
- Provision of assistance to technology developers and suppliers in opening and exploiting new markets (organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences, training and information events and networking activities).
The Romanian "Energy Cities" Network
OER is a non-governmental organization, gathering 37 members, important municipalities interested in improving the energy efficiency in public services (district heating, public lighting, water and gas supply, waste collection and storage, local transportation, etc.) and in promoting renewable energy and environmental protection.
Institute for Studies and Power Engineering (ISPE)
ISPE founded in 1949, is a Consulting & Engineering Company 100% private. ISPE developed, through its projects, practically all the National Power System, from the generation up to the transmission and distribution systems for heat and power. The ISPE’s medium and long-term development goals follow closely the Romanian strategy for EU integration, adoption and application of EU acquis. The transition to a sustainable energy future, in the Eastern and Central Europe, is reflected within ISPE’s strategy by implementing, through its projects, cleaner technologies and imposing the use of energy resources in an environmental friendly manner.
The ISPE business area is structured as follows:
- Markets: Power and Heat Generation, including renewable energy; Power Transmission and Distribution; Environmental Protection; Infrastructure Systems. Public Services; Industry; Civil and Industrial Works;
- Scope of services: Technical and financial consulting; Studies; Basic and Detail Engineering; General Contractor; Project Management; Digital Systems Configuring and Commissioning; On Site Supervision and Commissioning.
ASA Holding SA
ASA Holding is an engineering company involved in the fields of energy and environment. ASA actively promotes energy solutions for the reduction of environmental pollution and fossil fuel consumption. The fields of business are:
- Passive Houses
- Design Services for new / retrofitted Power Plants
- Steam/Hot Water Industrial Facility
- Turn-key Projects
- Cogeneration Projects (CHP)
- Environmental services
ISCE - Institute of Electric Power Studies & Consulting
ISCE provides information, consultancy and studies mainly on hydro but also on other renewables energies, for national and local decision makers in Romania; offers feasibility studies in the field of energy including RES for public and private organisations; co-operates with other institutions specialised in energy matters, from Romania and abroad with the aim to promote RES and RUE.
ICPE - Research Institute for Electrical Engineering New Energy Sources Laboratory
ICPE is an electrical engineering company. Following the oil crisis, the activity in renewable energy has been initiated in ICPE. Business areas are:
- Photovoltaic energy
- Wind energy
- Hybrid systems
IPA SA
IPA SA is a private company and is active in developing projects and research, and disseminating knowledge in the areas of Energy Issues, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy. Founded in 1960 as the R&D Institute for Automation, IPA SA has kept until now its basic profile: research and development, production, mounting, service and consulting for automation equipment and information technology in industry (chemistry, petrochemistry, metallurgic, building materials, energetic, machine building etc.), environment protection (noxious emission control, meteorological and hydrological parameters control), services for citizens (public information, the control for the lighting of airfield tracks, monitoring of seismic parameters, survey of hydro-technical dams, other survey systems).
Intertermo Concept Ltd.
Intertermo's activities are targeted at citizens, local and regional authorities, urban planners, energy specialists, research and academy experts, representatives of municipalities, ministries and governmental agencies, small enterprises and consulting firms, representatives of international programmes and financing organisations and market operators.
Energy related funds and programms
The Romanian Energy Efficiency Fund (FREE)
FREE is a financial institution providing commercial financing of investments projects aiming the rational use of energy (RUE). The Fund assists industrial companies and other energy consumers in adopting and use of modern technologies for efficient use of energy. Thus, the Romanian economy could be affected by the reduction of its final energy intensity and the mitigation of Green House Gases and other pollutant emissions.
FREE aims to promote a demonstrative effect, through the successful implementation of this GEF/IBRD energy efficiency project, and to increase the interest of the banking sector in supporting energy efficiency investments in Romania.
The Environmental State Fund
The Environmental Fund had been set up by Law no. 73 in 2000, as a special fund, outside the budget. The above mentioned law has been subsequently modified and completed by other regulations. Law no 73/2000 stipulated that Environmental Fund is meant to support and achieve the priority objectives, of public interest listed in the National Action Plan for environmental protection, according to national and international environmental norms and standards, and, given its generality this approach could have lead to financing a large amount of expenditures, without the Fund achieving its goals.
The managing unit for the Environment Fund is the Environment Fund Administration (EFA), legal public entity, coordinated by the national environmental protection authority: Ministry for Environment and Sustainable Development.
In 2007 EFA is continuing to finance environment investments, but, considering the small amount of granting of the last years (the most important amount was registered in 2006, when 25.68% of the resources meant to finance projects have been effectively allocated), the Emergency Governmental Decision no 59/2007 allowed the Environmental Fund to also finance the projects submitted for the national program concerning the improvement of the environment quality by developing urban green areas. The aim of this program is to improve the environmental factors and also the quality of life by developing urban green areas.
