Constantin Nita si-a vazut visul cu ochii: energeticieni, comanda la mine!Constantin Nita’s Dream Came True: Energy Professionals, Atten-SHUN!

In nebunia legislativa iscata de preocuparile parlamentarilor romani de a-si asigura imunitatea fata de justitie a trecut neobservata tactica ministrului delegat pentru energie, Constantin Nita, de a impune un act normativ care ii da puteri absolute asupra sectorului energetic, prin transformarea Departamentului pentru Energie intr-un veritabil minister. Desigur, strategia domnului Nita nu este straina in nici un fel de stiinta partidului din care face parte (PSD) si care a pus ochii pe sistemul energetic inca de la castigarea alegerilor de catre USL.

O lovitura de maestru data sub centura Partidului National Liberal, ramas acuma (oficial) cu gestionarea Ministerului Economiei dar fara „perlele coroanei”. Fostul ministru al economiei, Varujan Vosganian, care nu ar fi cedat chiar atat de usor „closca cu puii de aur” a fost bagat in corzi ceva mai devreme, in baza unor decizii mai vechi privind functionarea sistemului energetic, iar actualul ministru al economiei Andrei Dominic Gerea nici nu stie si nici nu poate sa puna frana avantului ministrului Nita.

Nu are rost sa comentam cum s-a facut, din punct de vedere legislativ, aceasta miscare de transfer a sectorului energetic in mana unui om aparut in schema ministeriala a guvernului Ponta exact in ziua prezentarii Cabinetului, caci ar parea un mizilic pe langa ceea ce s-a intamplat in Parlamentul Romaniei in ultimele doua zile. Spunem doar, ca de pe vremea controversatului ministru al Industriilor din Cabinetul Nastase, Dan Ioan Popescu, nici un alt politician nu a stapanit acest sector cu atata forta, cata a dovedit Constantin Nita intr-un singur an. Si asta in conditiile in care nici macar nu era ministru plin.

Cine ar fi crezut ca in plina expansiune a investitiilor in sectorul regenerabilelor va veni cineva care sa curme brusc schema de ajutor, fara nici o avertizare prealabila? Si, atentie, vorbim aici de miliarde de euro.

Cine ar fi crezut ca Alro Slatina, Arcelor Mittal sau alti mari consumatori vor mai avea trecere pe la guvern, dupa anii in care au beneficiat de cea mai ieftina energie din Romania?

Cine ar fi crezut ca distributiile de energie si gaze privatizate cu mari companii europene vor fi acuzate oficial ca nu si-au respectat angajamentele de investitii si ca vor fi pasibile de plata unor sume imense de bani din acest motiv?

Cine ar fi crezut ca toate contractele de energie vor fi incheiate exclusiv pe platforma OPCOM sau ca producatorii de energie pe carbune vor rezista in aceasta perioada extrem de dura pentru ei si vor mai realiza si profit, pe deasupra?

Sunt doar cateva dintre consecintele deciziilor ministrului Constantin Nita cu rezultate vizibile in piata. Dar nu ele trebuie sa ne impresioneze, ci mai ales ceea ce va urma. „Vaca de muls”pe care o reprezinta sistemul energetic (ne referim aici si la domeniul gazelor naturale, desigur) de abia acum isi va arata adevarata valoare. Deocamdata este prematur sa spunem ca valoarea va fi in beneficiul nostru sau al partidului domnului Nita.

In context, consideram ca inclusiv amanarea elaborarii strategiei energetice pentru a doua jumatate a anului care vine, are un talc. Pana atunci lucrurile trebuiesc aranjate astfel incat „vaca” sa dea tot ce are mai bun. Vom urmari cu interes deciziile Departamentului pentru Energie, ce va deveni in curand minister de sine statator. Si nu orice minister. Daca vreti sa-i intelegeti forta amintiti-va inca odata de perioada lui Dan Ioan Popescu. Amidst the legislative madness provoked by the Romanian MPs’ efforts to secure immunity against legal prosecution, many didn’t note the tactics of Mr. Constantin Nita, minister for energy, to pass a law granting him absolute powers over the energy industry, by transforming the Energy Department into a formal ministry. Of course, Mr. Nita strategy is not far from his party’s teaching (the Social Democratic Party, PSD); they set their eyes on the energy system immediately after winning the elections with USL (translator’s note: an alliance formed by PSD with the Liberals and Conservatives).

A master’s blow under the belt of the National Liberal Party, now (officially) left with the management of the Ministry of Economy, but without the ‘crown jewels’. The former minister of economy, Mr. Varjuan Vosganian, who wasn’t so keen to give away the ‘treasure chest’, has been cornered earlier, based on older decisions concerning the operation of the energy system; and the current minister, Mr. Andrei Dominic Gerea, has neither the means, nor the force to stop Mr. Nita’s charge.

It would be pointless to comment from the legislative point of view this move for transferring the energy sector to an individual who popped up in the ministers’ list during the very day when Mr. Ponta’s Cabinet was unveiled; it would be trifles compared to the proceedings of the Romanian Parliament during the late couple of days. What we say is just that since the days of Mr. Dan Ioan Popescu, the controversial minister of industries of Mr. Nastase’s Cabinet, no other politician grabbed this sector more forcefully as Mr. Constantin Nita did in a single year. And he was yet but a minister delegate.

Who would have expected, while the investments in renewable energies were surging, for someone to cut off the subsidies without prior notice? Mind you, we’re talking about billions of euros.

Who would have thought that Alro Slatina, Arcelor Mittal, or other big energy consumers would still be heard by the government, after years of taking advantage of the cheapest energy in Romania?

Who believed that the energy and gas distributors, privatized with big European companies, could be officially accused of breaching their promises of investments, and hence could be liable for huge penalties?

Who might have predicted that the energy contracts would be signed exclusively on OPCOM’s (the Romanian Gas and Electricity Market Operator) platform, or that the energy producers based on coal would hang on during these hard times, and moreover, make profits?

These are but a few of the consequences of the decisions of minister Constantin Nita with visible impact on the market. But they are not as impressive as the foreseeable future. The cash cow of the energy system (including, of course, the natural gas industry) is just beginning to reveal its true value. It is still early to tell if this will be for the benefit of all of us, or of Mr. Nita’s party.

Within this context, even the deferment of the drafting of an energy strategy until the second half of next year becomes meaningful. Until then, cards must be dealt so that the moneymaker yields its best. We will closely watch the Energy Department’s decisions, as it will be soon evolve into an independent ministry – and not just any ministry. To understand its force, remember once again the times of Mr. Dan Ioan Popescu.