Against the backdrop of accelerated energy transition and transformations in distribution networks, the risk of blackouts cannot be completely ignored. In the view of Alexandru Chiriță, CEO of Electrica, Romania is at a critical juncture where infrastructure investment decisions will make the difference between stability and systemic vulnerability.
“Blackout is not impossible, it is unlikely in Romania. This does not mean that it cannot happen”, said Alexandru Chiriță, at the 11th Energy Strategy Summit, the flagship event of Energynomics. . In front of an audience of energy industry leaders, he issued a clear warning: “If we don’t make the necessary investments, it is possible that we will end up in such a situation.”
Romania currently enjoys a balanced energy mix – with significant hydro resources, stable nuclear capacity and still-functioning coal-fired power plants. But this balance could be undermined by the rapid rate of growth of small-scale renewable capacity, especially in the prosumer area. “When we have more than 500,000 prosumers, a plethora of GW in photovoltaics, do we think about what the impact will be on the grids?” asked Chiriță rhetorically.
He emphasises that this transformation brings an entirely new set of challenges for distribution networks, designed in a different context and for a different type of consumption. Although the risk of blackout currently seems low, it should not be ruled out: “Today it is unlikely, but that unlikely does not eliminate 100 per cent of the risk.” Moreover, the lack of a clear long-term vision can turn uncertainty into reality: “Time will pass with or without these investments,” warned Chiriță, referring to the horizon of 2035.
In his opinion, the problem is not a lack of intention on the part of the operators, but uncertainty about the regulatory framework and administrative limitations. “It is simply absurd to simply talk about operators taking the money and not investing. The regulator has the necessary mechanisms in place to make clear what the rules are.”
What’s more, he says, it’s not about costs, but missed opportunities. “It seems to me that we’re wrongly talking about a network cost. It’s actually a missed opportunity for investment that, as rightly emphasised, could be made.” Without these investments, Romanian companies risk losing out in the regional competition: “The other competitors in the market will have cheap energy, and we will be left behind because the energy price will be high.”
But even in the event of a favourable framework for investment, another problem looms on the horizon: labour shortages. “The issue that should really concern us is that even if I were the regulator, that’s where I would look: OK, do more. With whom?” emphasised Chiriță. The solution is predictability and long-term commitment, so that the labour market also responds appropriately: “There will be other companies, other human resources that will organise themselves and enter the market to be able to carry all these projects.”
Beyond the risks, Chiriță insists on an essential principle for a group like Electrica: stability. “The important thing for us is predictability. I need to know exactly where we are going with the price, how stable it is, so that I can offer a stable and solid service to the customer. It’s not a business for the moment, it’s a long-term business.”
According to him, network investments, whether in traditional infrastructure or in IT and distributed production dispatching solutions, are fundamental to keep the system coherent. Lack of them can not only make the network vulnerable, but affect the entire value chain from producer to consumer.
2025 Energy Strategy Summit was organised by Energynomics, with the support of our partners: AJ Brand, Elektra Renewable Support, ABB, Adrem Asset Management, Alive Capital, BCR, DEKRA, Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania, E-Infra, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, EnergoBit, Enery, Enevo Group, Enexus, European Investment Bank, Evryo, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Delgaz Grid, Genesis Biopartner, Huawei, ING Bank, Jantzen Renewables, Keno Energy, Leader Team, LONGi, Nano Energies, Prime Batteries Technology, Procesio, Procredit Bank, Relians, Renomia, Romgaz, Schneider Electric, script.ai, Sermatec, smartPulse, Solar Today, SolaX, Think Blu Solution, Voltika, Wiren, YEO, AIployees, Aqua Carpatica, Alexandrion, Carbon Tool, Imsol.