The Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, represented Romania at the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Green Corridor, a multibillion-dollar investment supported by the Governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary
Sebastian-Ioan Burduja, Minister of Energy, stated: “Within the next 30 days, the joint project company for implementing the Green Corridor will be launched, headquartered in Bucharest. The investment will energetically connect the Caspian Sea with the European Union.”
The four countries aim to transform the region into a hub of stability and energy security. The Green Corridor will enable the integration of a substantial volume of clean energy through a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable that will cross the Black Sea, connecting Hungary, Romania, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
Two months ago, in Bucharest, CNTEE Transelectrica, Georgian State Electrosystem, AzerEnerji, and MVM Electrical Works signed the incorporation documents for the project company Green Energy Corridor Power Company (GECO), based in Romania. This company will carry out the HVDC submarine cable project.
The project plays a key role in strengthening national and regional energy security, enhancing connectivity within the Black Sea basin, diversifying supply routes, harnessing renewable energy potential, increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix, and reducing electricity prices for both residential and business consumers in Romania.
Sebastian-Ioan Burduja, Minister of Energy, added: “There is no energy transition without energy transportation infrastructure. We feel a profound lack of interconnection, with the European energy market currently decoupled. This is why we pay much higher prices in Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe. For Romania, the Green Corridor and the East-West HVDC Interconnector are vital projects. Without these interconnections, we will not be able to evacuate the additional energy from Units 3 and 4 at Cernavodă or from offshore wind farms in the Black Sea, projected for 2031-2032. Moreover, an HVDC interconnection will be an additional tool for the National Energy Dispatcher (DEN) to balance the system.
Establishing the project company headquarters for the Green Corridor in Bucharest has been a significant diplomatic victory in recent months. Billions of euros will flow through the Romanian economy, and this investment will mean jobs, development, and lower bills for Romanians. It is essential to quickly develop new energy transport and supply routes, not only to strengthen energy security but also to increase market competitiveness through lower electricity prices.”
The meeting took place during the 29th Annual UN Conference on Climate Change (COP29), held from November 11-22 and hosted for the first time by Azerbaijan.
The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a new, fair, and ambitious collective quantitative goal for climate financing. The COP29 Presidency has launched 14 initiatives connecting climate change mitigation with sustainable development goals, including green energy corridors, energy storage, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, green digital technologies, and more.