Works at the Pașcani hydroelectric power plant received environmental approval on Friday, following the analysis carried out by Apele Române and a series of three amendments they made to the impact study, following technical discussions, announced the Minister of Environment, Diana Buzoianu.
“The works at the Pașcani hydroelectric power plant received the environmental consent today, after the analysis by Apele Române and after a series of 3 amendments that they brought to the impact study, following technical discussions. The blockage invoked by some or others represented, in fact, the application of the law. I believe that for the other 3 hydroelectric power plants (for which a technical discussion took place between Hidroelectrica and Apele Române on Tuesday, so the legal process is taking the necessary steps) a careful and objective analysis is also needed. Especially since we are talking, in some cases, about protests by residents in the area who say they fear for their access to water if those works start. Romanians can receive all their answers right now: in the legal analysis stage of the impact studies”, she wrote on her Facebook page, according to Agerpres.
On the other hand, the Minister of the Environment drew attention to the fact that, while under Romanian law, the polluter or the builder is obliged to present an impact study to obtain the environmental agreement, which is paid for from his own money, with an expert selected by him, in most European countries, these studies are paid for by the polluter, but carried out by experts selected or validated by public authorities, precisely so that there is no conflict of interest.
On Friday afternoon, Diana Buzoianu went to the Pașcani Hydropower Development (AHE Pașcani), a facility located on the Siret River, on the border of Iași and Suceava counties.
“Where there is all the up-to-date legislation fulfilled, there will always be allies in the Ministry of Environment, where there will be the slightest suspicions regarding the fulfillment of obligations, there will always be firm questions, because we want to be critical, to think, not to be notaries, to sign absolutely all the authorizations. We really want the investments that people need to be made. The Pașcani hydroelectric power plant will help, following all the data provided, especially in the flood zone and in the area of water access for communities. I am glad that we can respect the law to the letter in this case. I have seen a lot of discussions about the moment when these opinions were approved. I have signed, will sign and am signing documents on a calendar that is related to the law, not necessarily to political parties or the hysteria of extremist movements”, Buzoianu specified.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the Pașcani HPP is a strategic project for Romania, currently in the final stage of the procedure for issuing the environmental agreement. The development includes a dam, reservoir and hydroelectric power plant, with an installed capacity of 9.4 MW and an estimated annual production of approximately 25 GWh. The accumulation of 68.7 million cubic meters of water has a multiple role: producing renewable energy, reducing the risk of floods and supplying local communities with water resources. The project is over 70% complete and has been declared of major national interest.
“A careful and objective analysis is also needed for the other three hydroelectric power plants. Legal procedures are underway, with technical discussions between Hidroelectrica and Apele Române. In some areas there are protests by locals, who fear that they will be left without water once the works start. That is precisely why the analysis stage of the impact studies is the moment when Romanians can receive all the clear and official answers,” aded the head of the Environment, in the press conference at AHE Pașcani.
Photo source: SPIRI DRONE