State-owned Hidroelectrica is set to launch a tender for foreign utilities, as well as European investment banks, to co-finance its proposed 1GW pumped storage plant in Tarnita, in the northwest of Romania. The plant, which will have four 250MW turbines, is expected to cost �1.3bn. The plant has been earmarked by Romania’s Ministry for the Economy as crucial to the country’s short-term energy plan. Original plans drawn up by ministry assessed the hydro-powered plant’s cost at �1bn. (THE ICIS HEREN REPORTS - EDEM 13 074 / 17 April 2009) |