The Kazakh-Romanian Energy Investment Fund, a strategic collaboration between the Romanian government and KMG International, is on the brink of finishing an 80MW gas-fired power plant. This significant development, positioned on the Midia platform adjacent to the Petromidia refinery, represents a substantial $160 million investment, aiming to satisfy the refinery’s entire energy requirements. With the project currently at a 95% completion rate, anticipation builds for its operational commencement in the latter half of the year.
– At this moment, the completion stage of the cogeneration plant near the Petromidia refinery is 95%. The necessary equipment was received and installed according to the work schedule agreed upon by all the parties involved in this project. We estimate that the start of operation of the plant is feasible in the second part of this year – conveyed representatives of FIEKR, as reported by Ziarul Financiar. This move is not just a step towards energy self-sufficiency for the Petromidia refinery but also a significant leap towards enhancing the energy security of Romania. The cogeneration plant is designed to be a model of efficiency, producing both electricity and thermal energy, thereby reducing waste and optimizing energy use.
In a parallel development, Romgaz, Romania’s state-controlled natural gas company, is also advancing with its Iernut project. This endeavour involves the construction of a 460 MW gas-fired power plant, with an investment totalling EUR 269 million. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the Iernut project further underscores Romania’s commitment to bolstering its energy infrastructure and reducing reliance on imported energy. These initiatives collectively signify a strategic pivot towards domestic energy production, leveraging natural gas as a transitional fuel towards a more sustainable energy mix.