Power Output Down 1.6% On Year In January-May

07.06.2012 By Florentina Dragu

Romanian energy output inched down 1.6% on the year to 9.61 million tons of oil equivalent in the first five months, due to declining production in the thermal and hydropower sectors, official data showed Friday.

Hydropower output decreased 29.5% on the year to 5.74 billion kilowatts hour, while thermal production was down 1.1% to 13.68 billion KWh, the statistics institute INS said.

In a surprising move mid-June, Romania's top hydropower generator Hidroelectrica filed for insolvency, citing financial difficulties due to a prolonged draught and faulty management. The company, which was due to launch listing procedures in Bucharest this year, said it would undergo reorganization over the following 18 months.

Nuclear production in Romania inched up 0.1% on the year in January through May, while wind farm production almost doubled to 1.05 billion KWh, from 477.4 million KWh in the same period of 2011.

Romania's primary energy resources fell 2.7% on the year to 14.3 million tons of oil equivalent in the first five months, the data showed.

Electric energy resources were down 6.5% to 25.5 billion KWh, largely due to a 7.3% decline in production.

Romanian final power consumption reached 21.9 billion KWh in January through May, down 1.8% from the same period of 2011. Public illumination rose 7.1% on the year, while household consumption was up 1.5%.