Romania has the chance to become the energy hub of Southeastern Europe, but it urgently needs investments in networks, legislative stability and acceleration of authorizations — these are the main conclusions of the monthly meeting of AHK Romania members dedicated to the energy sector, which was attended by about 100 representatives of the Romanian-German business environment.
Energy industry leaders, renewable energy developers and energy policy experts analyzed Romania’s prospects in a period marked by the rapid growth of renewable capacities and pressure on energy infrastructure. The discussions highlighted both the progress and the bottlenecks that may delay Romania’s transformation into a strategic regional actor.
In opening the meeting, Volker Raffel, President of AHK Romania, stressed that “Romania is one of the best-positioned countries to become a regional energy hub. We have the resources, the geographical position and a rapidly expanding renewable capacity. But to succeed, we need to solve three important problems: the state’s payment discipline, a predictable market framework and unlocking investments in the networks.”
The roundtable discussions showed that Romania needs over 1.2 billion euros annually to modernize its distribution networks. Without accelerated investment growth, the integration of renewable projects into the grid, the connection of industrial consumers and the electrification of transport, these investments risk being delayed.
Cristina Păun, deputy director of the Federation of Energy Utilities Associations (ACUE), highlighted the major pressures on network operators: the rapid growth of the number of prosumers, the emergence of charging stations for electric vehicles as a new type of consumption and the lack of regulatory mechanisms that allow for anticipatory investments.
On the other hand, renewable energy is developing rapidly, especially the solar and wind sectors. However, developers are facing significant difficulties in terms of permits and access to the network. Nikolaus Eichert, executive director of wpd Romania, stressed that although Romania remains one of the most attractive markets in the region, administrative and infrastructure bottlenecks are hampering the real pace of project implementation, preventing the full exploitation of the potential.
Alina Arsani, Head of Energy at EPG, stressed the need for a coherent long-term strategy, which includes accelerating electrification and aligning national policies with European dynamics. She pointed out that Romania needs to clarify its directions regarding energy production, investments in storage and the role of gas in the transition, in order to avoid structural delays in the coming years.
The companies conveyed that there is an urgent need for legislative stability, clarity on energy costs and fast connection procedures — essential conditions for long-term investment decisions.
The meeting was moderated by Sebastian Metz, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of AHK Romania, who summarized the expectations of the business environment: “Companies need predictable costs, stable regulations and a functioning infrastructure. Romania’s potential is undeniable, but success depends on faster procedures for obtaining authorizations for starting energy projects, coherent regulations and an efficient absorption of European funds. With the right execution, Romania can become the energy hub of South-Eastern Europe.”