Transport minister: Bala 2 working group established to boost energy security, improve Danube navigation
A government working group will oversee the implementation of the Bala 2 project, a key investment aimed at securing the water flows needed to cool the reactors at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant and improving year-round navigation on the Danube, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stefan-Ovidiu Popa announced on Thursday.
'Energy security and more efficient navigation on the Danube. These are the two objectives of the working group set up today following technical discussions with Energy Minister Dumitru Chisalita. This working group will be responsible for implementing the Bala 2 project, which is of particular importance, first and foremost for ensuring the water flows required to cool the reactors at Cernavoda,' Popa wrote on Facebook.
According to the minister, the project will also improve navigability on the Danube throughout the year.
'We want to find a solution that works in the long term so that situations like the one we experienced this summer do not happen again. It is not normal for a nuclear power plant's operation to depend on weather conditions. Nor is it normal for cargo transport on the Danube to be disrupted during certain periods of the year. Romania needs energy security. Romania needs predictable river transport,' he said.
Popa recently said the government would initially allocate EUR 200 million to launch the project, with the remaining funding to be identified for an estimated total investment of RON 1.2-1.3 billion.
Speaking at a press conference on November 9, the minister described Bala 2 as one of Romania's two priority Danube infrastructure projects, alongside Fast Danube.
'Bala 2 is particularly important, first and foremost for ensuring the water flows required to cool the reactors at Cernavoda. In addition, this project to reconfigure flows in the Bala area will allow for better navigation on the Danube throughout the year,' Popa said, adding that Prime Minister support had already been secured for the initial funding tranche. He also stressed the importance of speeding up the Fast Danube project, which he said would extend the annual navigation period and shift more freight transport onto waterways - a cheaper option than rail. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Tilica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)
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