Biofuels in Romania
General
Mandatory targets set by the Proposal for a
Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the promotion
of the use of energy from renewable sources from January 2008:
24% share of RES on the final consumption of energy in 2020; at least
10% share of biofuels of final consumption of energy in transport in
2020.
National commitments in the “Strategy for the utilisation of
renewable energy sources” (2007-2020) and "National Energy Strategy
2007-2020": 11% of RES in primary Energy Consumption by 2010. (2015 –
Renewable energy sources a share of 15% on the total primary energy
sources). Romania must ensure that a minimum percentage of biofuels or
other renewable fuels for transport are introduced onto the market by
2010. The minimum percentage set is 5.75%, calculated on the basis of
the energy content of all types of petrol and diesel used in transport.
Renewables in transport: biofuels
Directive
2003/30/EC was transposed in full by Government Decision No 1844/2005
on the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for
transport, published in Official Gazette No 44 of 18 January 2006. In
order to meet the target, Government Decision No 1844/2005 was amended
by Government Decision No 456/2007, published in Official Gazette No
345 of 22 May 2007, making provision for the staggered introduction of
a mi nimum percentage of biofuels in conventional fuels, as follows:
a) from 1 July 2007, diesel with a minimum 2% biofuel content by volume;
b) from 1 January 2008, diesel with a minimum 3% biofuel content by volume;
c) from 1 July 2008, diesel with a minimum 4% biofuel content by volume;
d) from 1 July 2009, petrol with a minimum 4% biofuel content by volume.
Romania has undertaken a series of actions intended to contribute to
the promotion of he use of biofuels and other renewable fuels.
These include the following:
- The inclusion in the Fiscal Code of an exemption from the payment of
excise duty for energy products that fall under the category of
biofuels and other renewable fuels. This provision forms the subject of
Article 201(l) of Law No 571/2003 on the Fiscal Code, as amended by Law
No 343/2006. The implementing rules for the new Fiscal Code are
approved by Government Decision No 1861/21.12.2006.
- Emergency Government Ordinance No 125/2006 approving the direct
payment and complementary national direct payment schemes granted for
agriculture starting from 2007, and amending Article 2 of Law No
36/1991 on agricultural companies and other forms of agricultural
associations, approved with amendments by Law No 139/2007; Financial
assistance is granted to agricultural producers for the cultivation of
sunflower, oilseed rape, soya and corn under the single area payments
scheme (SAPS) and the payment scheme for energy crops.
Romania's potential to supply the necessary raw material, namely
vegetable oil (sunflower, soya, oilseed rape) is approximately 500 -550
thousand tonnes/year, permitting the production of a s imilar amount of
biodiesel (approximately 500-550 thousand tonnes/year).
Sources:
At present Romania has a production capacity of approx. 300
thousand tonnes/year for biodiesel and approx. 20 thousand tonnes/year
for bioethanol, and Approximately 50 000 tonnes of biodiesel were
produced and used in Romania in 2007.
This information can be referenced without permission provided that
the source is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive
EurObserv'ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last
update)'
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