Romania: New law allows modifying protected areas for hydroelectric projects

President Nicușor Dan has promulgated a law that allows for the modification of protected area boundaries to facilitate specific hydroelectric projects. Under this new legal framework, the central authority for environmental protection, waters, and forests can adjust the limits of natural protected areas within 60 days of a request from a beneficiary.

This exception applies only to areas where investment objectives for hydroelectric developments were approved by Government decision or state decree prior to June 29, 2007, and were already in progress or demarcated at that time. The law mandates that new boundaries must ensure the perimeter of the hydroelectric scheme—including access roads, stations, and transport or distribution networks—lies outside the protected area. Additionally, a minimum 100-meter buffer zone must be maintained between the new protected area limits and the hydroelectric development.

The provisions do not apply to projects solely focused on national defense, security, or emergency response, nor to existing electricity production or transport capacities within protected areas undergoing maintenance, modernization, or technological upgrades.