Large industrial consumers in Romania pay electricity at an average price of 192 euros per MWh, compared to 113 euros per MWh paid by their peers in European countries, according to a report by the Association of Large Energy Consumers in Romania (ABIEC).
Consequently, the trade deficit in the major industrial sectors is widening while the industrial activity is losing momentum, the report concludes.
“The trade deficit in mineral products, construction materials, chemical and metallurgical products has grown rapidly in recent years and already exceeds EUR 9.4 billion (some 3% of GDP),” reads the ABIEC study.
For comparison, the Greek factories pay 65 euros per MWh, those in Spain pay 95 euros and the Bulgarian factories pay 102 euros per MWh.
Among the members of the association are metallurgical, chemical fertilizer and construction materials companies, with aggregated consumption amounting to 10% of the total national electricity consumption.
The companies’ data shows that the price of energy has increased 5 times compared to the pre-pandemic level, while the price of goods increased only 1-2 times.