Marii consumatori de energie electrica si gaze continua lupta cu morile de vantBig Electricity and Gas Consumers Keep Tilting at Windmills

Si la propriu si la figurat, am putea spune. Explozia investitiilor in energiile regenerabile, scaderea cererii pe pietele internationale de aluminiu si otel, concurenta din partea unor producatori aflati in fostul spatiu sovietic sunt doar cateva dintre influentele negative care ameninta sa puna pe butuci cei doi mari producatori din Romania: Alro Slatina si ArcelorMittal Steel Galati. Situatia este valabila si pentru alti mari producatori din industria siderurgica europeana, motiv pentru care fiecare tara incearca sa sprijine acest sector, deocamdata individual.

In Romania insa, autoritatile aplica metoda drobului de sare. Stim ca industria siderurgica este amenintata, dar nu putem face nimic. “Ne asteptam la mari probleme pentru consumatorii industriali, dar angajamentele de liberalizare a pietelor energiei si gazelor trebuie respectate”, declara de curand presedintele ANRE, Niculae Havrilet. Tocmai de acest proces isi leaga sperantele ArcelorMittal, Alro Slatina, Lafarge sau Saint Gobain, cativa dintre cei mai mari consumatori de gaze si energie din Romania, reuniti intr-o Asociatie menita a face lobby pe langa autoritati, in sensul reducerii poverii la facturile de utilitati.

Chiar daca influentele in costuri ale facturilor cu energia electrica si gazele naturale sunt mai mult decat vizibile, trebuie sa spunem insa ca acest lucru era de anticipat inca din 2007, cand Romania s-a angajat sa liberalizeze piata de energie si gaze. Ulterior,am obtinut un ragaz de cel putin cinci ani, in vederea unei liberalizari etapizate, timp in care marii consumatori ar fi putut sa investeasca in tehnologii performante si in reducerea consumului.

Pe de alta parte, atat Arcelor cat si Alro au beneficiat ani la rand de cea mai ieftina energie din aceasta parte a Europei, in contextul unei cereri ridicate pe pietele internationale la aluminiu si otel, fara ca, in paralel sa fie atinse obiectivele de investitii la care s-au angajat. Situatia s-a intors acum impotriva lor si este greu de presupus ca o interventie a statului ar putea salva mare lucru, daca cererea de produse finite nu revine pe un trend crescator.

Dincolo de conjunctura din piata exista totusi cateva argumente ale marilor consumatori, de care nu se poate face abstractie atunci cand se regandeste schema de sprijin pentru energia regenerabila, precum si deschiderea totala a pietei de gaze naturale.

Pretul energiei electrice a ajuns la un nivel de 180-185 lei/MW h, in piata, insa la acesta se adauga o serie de taxe suplimentare care fac ca la beneficiari pretul sa depaseasca 225-230 lei/MWh, fiind astfel la un nivel similar cu cel atins pe pietele europene mult mai dezvoltate. Consumatorii industriali din Romania sunt principalii sustinatori ai energiilor regenerabile, cu costuri aproape insuportabile insa, in momentul de fata. La aluminiu, de pilda, Alro Slatina plateste cel mai mare pret, prin comparatie cu ceilalti producatori europeni, lucru valabil si pentru ArcelorMittal, dupa cum sustine directorul acestui combinat, Bruno Ribo.

Taxa de cogenerrare, pretul certificatelor verzi si al celor de emisii de CO2, taxele de transport si presiunile pe investitiile de mediu sunt principalele elemente negative care influenteaza costurile cu energia. In acest domeniu se solicita interventia statului, prin masuri similare adoptate deja, sau in curs de adoptare, in alte state membre ale Uniunii Europene. Asociatia Marilor Consumatori Industriali din Energie sustine ca Romania plateste cele mai mari taxe de sprijin pentru energia regenerabila (224% din media UE), in conditiile in care acesti consumatori subventioneaza un sector privat mic, care are profiturile garantate.

“Autoritatile trebuie sa gaseasca o solutie permanenta pentru a opri supracompensarea sectorului de energie verde”, se arata in comunicatul Asociatiei, precum si o exceptare a marilor consumatori industriali de la plata unui procent din taxele pentru energia regenerabila.

Manusa a fost deja aruncata in curtea ANRE si a Departamentului pentru Energie, dar, deocamdata nu o ridica nimeniWe could say that with a figuratively, but also literally. The boom of investments in renewable energy, the decline of demand on the international markets for aluminum and steel, the competition of producers in the former soviet states – here are just a few of the threats for two major producers of Romania: Alro Slatina and ArcelorMittal Steel Galati. The same goes for other major producers in the European steel industry, and that’s why all the countries try to support this industry – so far, only individually.

But in Romania, the rulers are fatalistic. We know that the steel industry is in danger, but there is nothing we can do. “We expect serious troubles for the industrial consumers, but the commitments for the liberalization of the energy and gas markets must be honored”, said recently Mr. Niculae Havrilet, the president of the ANRE (Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority). This is exactly the process who gives hope to ArcelorMittal, Alro Slatina, Lafarge or Saint Gobain, some of the largest gas and energy consumers in Romania, who formed an association to lobby for a relief of the burden of utilities bills.

Though the impact of the electricity and gas bills on the costs are clearly visible, we must say that this had to be expected since 2007, when Romania promised to liberalize its energy and gas markets. Later, we had a delay of at least five years for gradual liberalization, and meanwhile the big consumers could have invested in advanced technology and in cutting down the consumption.

On the other hand, both Arcelor and Alro took advantage for many years of the cheapest energy in this part of Europe, while the demand on the international markets of aluminum and steel was strong – and without reaching the investment targets they committed themselves to. Now the things turned against them and it is hard to believe that a state intervention could save much, if the demand for finished products does not return to an upward trend.

Beyond the market circumstances, the big consumers have some points who cannot be ignored when considering the support scheme for the renewable energy and the complete opening of the natural gas market.

The price of electricity has reached a market level of 180-185 RON/MWh, but additional taxes come on top, bringing the end price above 225-230 RON/MWh, similar to much more developed European markets. The industrial consumers in Romania are the main bearers of the burden of renewable energy, at almost impossible costs at present. In the aluminum industry, for instance, Alro Slatina pays the highest price of all the European producer, and the same goes for ArcelorMittal, according to the manager of this factory, Mr. Bruno Ribo.

The cogeneration tax, the price of the green certificates and of the CO2 emissions, the transport taxes and the pressure on medium-term investments are the major negative items with an impact on the energy costs. This is were state intervention is requested, through steps already taken or about to be taken by other EU countries. The Association of the Big Industrial Energy Consumers (ABIEC) argues that Romania pays the highest support taxes for renewable energy (224% of the EU average), while the private sector supported by these consumers is small and has guaranteed profits.

“The rulers must find a permanent solution to stop overcompensating the green energy industry”, points out an ABIEC statement, calling also for an exception for the big industrial consumers, namely their exemption from a certain percentage of the taxes for renewable energy.

The challenge has been issued to the ANRE and to the Energy Department, but so far there is no response.