Romgaz to build 200MW of gas, solar capacity

Romanian state-owned utility Romgaz will commission 200MW of gas and solar capacity in Halanga, southwest Romania, the firm said.

Romgaz will build a 150MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant and a 50MW solar photovoltaic park near the 247MW Halanga lignite-fired plant. The firm will develop both projects in partnership with Romanian offshore drilling firm Grup Servicii Petroliere.

A hydrogen production facility is also planned, to be integrated with the CCGT unit, Romgaz said, without giving further details.

Romgaz is looking to expand its power generation portfolio by 2025 with new gas-fired and renewable units. It expects to launch a public procurement procedure during the first half of 2021 for the development of a second CCGT unit at Mintia. The unit could have an installed capacity of 405MW, according to a feasibility study conducted by the firm.

Romgaz is currently building its first CCGT facility, the 430MW Iernut complex in northwest Romania. The firm expects to commission the unit by the end of this year, having delayed from an estimated start-up in the first quarter and then in the second quarter.

Romgaz also plans to build 250MW of renewable capacity from a total investment of around 1.2bn lei ($290mn) over the next five years.

By Bilal Muftuoglu