State-owned energy transport company Transelectrica is close to receiving the approval for a EUR 65 million loan from the International Invetsment Bank (EIB), according to the company's general manager Adrian Baicusi (in picture). The loan will cover the company's energy transport network. Transelectrica has planned to invest around EUR 115 million this year, out of which around EUR 24 million will come from fees paid by energy companies to connect to Transelectrica's network.

Meanwhile, energy consumption in Romania has increased by 4 to 4.5 percent compared to the same time last year, according to Baicusi. The increase in consumption was fueled by the industrial sector in the last two months and the level of increase could continue throughout the year. Increasing taxes could lead to a drop in energy consumption, but the austerity measures already taken by the government will not affect the energy consumption, said Baicusi.