Romania hydroelectric development in protected areas

Romania has implemented new legal and environmental measures to facilitate the completion of hydroelectric projects within protected areas.

President Nicușor Dan promulgated a law allowing the central authority for environmental protection, waters, and forests to modify the boundaries of natural protected areas. This provision is restricted to hydroelectric investment objectives that 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 requires that new boundaries maintain a minimum 100-meter buffer zone between the protected area and the hydroelectric development.

Following this framework, the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests issued an environmental agreement for the completion of the Cornetu-Avrig hydroelectric plant on the Olt River. Managed by Hidroelectrica, the project aims to finalize works originally approved in 1989 across Sibiu and Vâlcea counties. The development is expected to generate 156.8 GWh of renewable energy annually, enough to power over 52,000 households. The technical solution utilizes existing infrastructure in the Olt Defile to preserve the DN7 national road and railway locations. The agreement includes mandatory monitoring and cultural protections for the Spart Tower historical monument.

Legal challenges regarding hydroelectric developments continue in the courts. In Cluj, the Tribunal rejected two attempts by the Declic Association to halt construction on the Surduc–Siriu hydroelectric plant, citing procedural issues and late filings; the case has been moved to the Cluj Court of Appeal.