NVEInternational Section

Advisory services in program development and implementation.

Background:The EEA Grants are funded by the EEA countries, namely Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein as a contribution to reduc-ing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthening of bilateral relations. As a result of negotiations, it was decided that funds would be distributed to 15 EU countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, - to be spent on 32 different program areas. In MoUs with the individual countries the actual allocation is determined, including which among the 32 areas will benefit. In the MoU it is also deter-mined which Norwegian authorities will be the DPP for the countries’ respective programs.

In Romania NVE is DPP for a program regarding renewable energy, especially hydropower. The program budget is proposed to be disposed to small scale hydro power plants, for both new ones and/or upgrading and extension of existing plants.

Parallel to this, it is in the same program a budget of 4 mil-lion Euros for geothermal heat. Here the Icelandic authority OS is the DPP. During the program period there will be a close cooperation between the OS and NVE.

Activities: The work is related to preparatory activities in connection with negotiations and programme development. The preparation of

Capital: Bucharest

Population: 21,790,479 (July 2013 est.)

Total installed capacity: 20,850 MW

Main Energy Sector Authorities: Ministry of Economy, Commerce andBusiness Environment

ROMANIA

Renewable Energy

Rumanian delegation to Norway, March 2014

NVEInternational Section

Overall Project Data

Client: Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) of EFTA, Brussels. FMO controls the EEA Grants funds on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.

NVE Mandate: NVE is Donor Program Partners (DPP) to the Program Operator (PO), the Environment Fund Administration (EFA).

Contract Value/ Duration: Program budget of 4,000,000, at the disposal of the PO. NVE’s expenditure is covered by a separate contract with the FMO. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in March 2012. The program period will last until early 2016.

ROMANIA

Palace of the Parliament, Bucharesta draft program for renewable energy initiatives progressed well and helped building a good working relationship between EFA and NVE.

Contact: Bjørn Aulie, aul@nve.no