Spanish Duro Felgueira, the main contractor hired by natural gas producer Romgaz for the construction of gas-fired unit at TPP Iernut, claims that it has completed almost 95 % of the works on the unit. According to Romanian media, representatives of the Spanish company said that value of completed works amounts to 247 million euros, out of the total value of the contract – 262 million euros, adding that nine more months are needed to complete the project. They say that Romgaz refused their proposal for 9-month deadline extension, which was requested due to problems originated from the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, Romgaz announced that it has suspended for 14 days the notice on the contract’s termination at the consortium’s request. Within that timeframe, the consortium will submit a proposal about finalizing the works and putting the plant into operation as soon as possible. In late 2020, Romgaz said that it would not grant an extension of the deadline for the completion of the construction of a gas-fired unit at the existing TPP Iernut, which was proposed by project’s contractors – Spanish Duro Felguera and local Romelectro. The agreed deadline for the completion of the project expired on 26 December. The statement from Romgaz said that it will identify the necessary solutions to complete and commission the combined cycle unit at Iernut and will inform of its decision at a later date. In November 2016, Romgaz has concluded an agreement worth 268 million euros (without VAT) with a consortium of Spanish company Duro Felguera and Romanian Romelectro for a turnkey project for the construction of new 430 MW gas-fired power plant within its Iernut thermal power plant. The deadline for the completion of the new combined cycle power plant is 36 months from the effective date of the contract, which shall be within 5 working days from the date the NIP financing is approved. Romgaz took over Iernut thermal power plant in 2013 from Bucharest-based thermal energy producer ELCEN in exchange for deleting a 145 million euros debt. Initially, the plant was supposed to be commissioned in early 2020, but delays have arisen, both as a result of disagreements between partners regarding the provisions of GEO 114/2018 and regarding the increase in construction costs. In May, Romgaz CEO Adrian Volintiru said that the unit will be commissioned by the end of 2020.
