The price of industrial water will increase in Romania. The response of the Minister of the Environment on how the population will be affected

The Minister of the Environment, Diana Buzoianu, said about the project by which the cost of industrial water will increase in Romania that it is a milestone in the PNRR and, in her opinion, any kind of mechanism that will be implemented will not have to be felt by the population.

Diana Buzoianu, Minister of the Environment PHOTO: Gov.ro

At the end of Thursday's Government meeting, the Minister of the Environment was asked what stage the project is in, which will increase the cost of industrial water in Romania.

“We don't have the scenarios ready yet. There is a milestone in the PNRR that says that the mechanism from ANAR must be strengthened to obtain funds, so that they can make investments in infrastructure. From my point of view, any kind of mechanism that will be implemented will not have to be felt by the population, because the profit margins that exist today for the operators that use this water should be lowered, not that the people feel a higher price afterward. In any of the options, we we will argue that this investment mechanism that needs to be done, we are talking about 30 billion lei, calculated by the World Bank, to be able to have the works in the infrastructure against the floods. So 30 billion would be necessary to carry out the critical works in the next 15 years. This is the answer of the World Bank, after the service contract was purchased in the PNRR coalition, we will have to have a discussion in the government, in order to pass a variant with which absolutely all parties agree, in order to fulfill this milestone which, however, has a rather large sanction and penalty of one billion attached, if it is not fulfilled. It is clear that this Milestone needs to be passed”. the Minister of the Environment also said, News writes.

Diana Buzoianu stated that what she wants is for this money to be really used for investments against floods, that is, about the dams we are still discussing, which also need financing so that part of them can be maintained and can defend us against floods.

“On the other hand, we are also talking about new works that must be done in absolutely critical areas, so this money will have to go primarily to this area. The exact way this mechanism will look will depend a lot on the discussions that will be held in the coalition and in the government. My perspective is that no price will have to be increased for the citizens, because there is no reason for the final price to be increased“, said Buzoianu.

The minister also said that someone will have to lose some profits.

“From my point of view, given that most of the discussions we are having are more about state companies, I think that the state no longer needs to make a profit on price increases necessarily in very difficult situations for the citizens. But these will be specific discussions, held when we have the scenarios. I repeat, there will have to be a consensus in the coalition and a consensus in the government for this milestone. It is a very important milestone, but precisely because I do not want it to be manipulated by none of the coalition partners that it would lead to price increases in one direction or another, I believe that it is necessary for all of us to take on a milestone that is absolutely necessary for Romania”Diana Buzoianu also affirmed.

According to the Minister of the Environment, investments in critical infrastructure against floods are not a luxury but a necessity.

“If last year, for example, we had 50 million from the national budget, that's about how much was executed until the end, 50-60 million lei for dams, think that we actually need, the necessary was somewhere almost 10 times more, last year. (..) The minimum scenario to be able to at least cover the critical works, we are talking about dams thatbutter in absolute risk areas and for which, if these works are not done, the population, the communities are facing a risk, it is approximately 30 billion lei, for 15 years. So, we are talking about a budget for the institution for 15 years, because these works must also be considered multi-annually”Buzoianu also said.