Romania’s Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Mircea Fechet, led a thorough inspection of the nearing-completion Rastolita hydropower development site in Mures County in early April, underscoring the project's imminent contribution to the nation's renewable energy infrastructure.
The Minister was accompanied by developer Hidroelectrica's Chief Investment Officer, Bogdan Badea during the visit on 4 April. Badea emphasized the strategic importance of the Rastolita hydropower development, positioned to harness the hydraulic potential of the Mures River's right tributaries. He highlighted its pivotal role in fortifying Romania's energy grid, particularly in providing essential system balancing capabilities amidst a burgeoning renewable energy landscape.
During the tour, Minister Fechet echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the project's crucial role in advancing Romania's renewable energy ambitions. He underscored its environmental benefits, stressing its capacity to mitigate carbon emissions and bolster the resilience of local water supply systems.
Amidst discussions, Fechet assured stakeholders of the government's commitment to facilitating the project's completion, ensuring adherence to rigorous regulatory standards. Notably, the Rastolita hydropower project is over 90% complete, marking a significant investment exceeding €200 million.
Upon completion, the facility will have an initial capacity of 35.2WW and an annual energy yield of 46.3 GWh in a first phase, and in the final stage it will rise to 117.5GWh / year, to 760m ASL elevation.
