Fiodorov & Partners

The Ministry of Energy is hosting a conference on 10th October 2024, focusing on the upcoming Contract for Difference (CFD) auction for onshore wind and solar photovoltaic projects in Romania. Our team will be attending this event to gain key insights and engage with industry leaders. During the event, we will be seeking clarification on a few crucial points: 1.  Why must evidence of financing be submitted before securing the CFD contract, given that obtaining the contract is typically essential for obtaining financial backing? 2. Why does the legislator require the validity of the funding application to be six months, while the anticipated date for CFD contract signing is set for January 2025? 3. What are the details regarding the bonds required for the tender & performance bond, including the value and execution of such? If you would like to attend in person, please fill out the registration questionnaire - https://lnkd.in/d724acSb Alternatively, if you cannot attend but have relevant questions, feel free to send them to us at tatiana.fiodorov@afpartners.ro, and we will be happy to address them during the event.

On September 24th, we had the pleasure of attending the RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE – The Future of Quality Living, organized by the Bucharest Real Estate Club. The event highlighted key trends and challenges in Bucharest’s residential market, and a few essential points stood out: 1. Traffic from Ilfov: The daily flow of commuters traveling from Ilfov to Bucharest for work, school, and services is putting significant pressure on the road infrastructure, highlighting the need for urgent solutions; 2. Traffic Commission Approval: Securing approval from the Traffic Commission to be issued by the Mayor is becoming a crucial step for urban development projects, directly impacting their execution; 3. Rising construction costs: While some markets have stagnated, labor costs continue to rise, significantly affecting sales prices; 4. Investor interest: There is growing interest in investments focused on income-generating properties and resale opportunities in the future; 5. Stock shortages: The lack of building permits is starting to cause a decline in available residential stock, which could lead to increased prices and higher demand; 6. Marketing strategies: In light of upcoming events such as Black Friday and the forthcoming elections, developers will need to adjust their marketing campaigns to align with consumer expectations; 7. Green standards: Compliance with NZEB standards is becoming essential, driving up costs; 8. Impact of VAT: Changes in VAT regulations continue to shape transactions and pricing in the real estate sector, affecting both developers and buyers.

On Friday, September 20, 2024, at the Gala Romanian Legal Awards, Fiodorov & Partners was honored to receive the prestigious Energy Award at Romania’s most important event recognizing excellence in the legal profession. The Gala, organized by Legal Marketing, highlights and celebrates professional excellence in the Romanian business law sector, and we are incredibly proud to have been recognized. According to the organizers, each award at the Romanian Legal Awards is granted based on a rigorous evaluation of projects in the legal industry over the course of a year. This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts of our team, who work passionately to drive forward the legal framework for energy and sustainability in Romania. The acknowledgment strengthens our resolve to continue pushing the boundaries in energy law and contributing to the growth of this critical sector. Thank you to our clients, partners, and supporters for trusting us on this journey. The best is yet to come! #EnergyLaw #LegalExcellence #FiodorovAndPartners #RomanianLegalAwards #Romania #Sustainability #EnergySector

As the first Contract for Difference (CFD) tender is approaching in Romania, it is crucial to understand the scheme’s framework to maximize opportunities. To assist with this, we’ve prepared a very brief, non-binding, and non-legal advisory scheme, outlining the key rules of the upcoming tender. The main issues we explore include: 🔍 What is the legislator’s reasoning for requiring "reliable and verifiable evidence of funding covering the total project value" in the funding application, considering that the goal of the CFD scheme is to make the project bankable? 🔍 When should the participation guarantee be executed? 🔍 What is the timeline for obtaining the grid connection permit, and what happens to the performance guarantee if the ATR is not obtained? 🔍 Why does the legislator require the validity of the funding application to be six months, while the anticipated date for CFD contract signing is set for January 2025? If you or your team would like to discuss any of these points or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out to schedule a 45-minute call to explore these aspects further. Let’s get prepared for Romania’s new energy future! #CFD #Romania #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #GridConnection #EnergyLaw #Project

We are pleased to announce that the main legal provisions governing Romania's CFD scheme have been approved. These provisions are rooted in several key legal acts, which we have summarized in a brief alert. For those interested in a deeper analysis of the CFD contract terms or the eligibility criteria for both projects and bidders, we invite you to reach out to our team. We are available to provide tailored insights and support. #Romania #EnergyLaw #CFD #LegalUpdate #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition

Is tacit approval still applicable for building permits and urban planning documentation endorsements and approvals? As of November 2019, following changes to Law no. 50/1991, tacit approval no longer applies to endorsements and approvals related to building permits and urban planning documentation. Instead, if these documents are not issued within the set deadline, the sanction is a fine from the State Inspectorate for Constructions (ISC), not automatic approval. #LegalUpdate #ConstructionLaw #BuildingPermits #Romania

We are pleased to announce that Tatiana Fiodorov will be speaking at the upcoming Energy Storage Systems Webinar in Romania, addressing several critical legal and regulatory issues within the energy sector. Join the event organised by ATA Insights | Renewable Energy Webinars & Events as we delve into crucial topics impacting the energy sector: 🔹 Grid Connection Requirements for Battery Energy Storage Systems; 🔹 Urban Planning and Regulatory Compliance for stand-alone storage projects; 🔹 Romanian Market Developments for new battery storage systems. This webinar is a fantastic opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and collectively address critical issues in Romania's energy infrastructure growth. #EnergySector #Romania #EnergyInfrastructure #Webinar #RenewableEnergy #BESS

On August 29, 2024, the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) introduced Order No. 60/2024, marking a significant step toward reducing electricity balancing costs in Romania. This order, now published in the Official Gazette, introduces key amendments to several existing regulations, effective from September 1, 2024, with additional provisions coming into effect on October 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025. #EnergyLaw #ANRE #ElectricityMarket #RenewableEnergy #EnergyRegulations #BalancingCosts #GridConnection #LegalUpdate #Romania #FiodorovAndPartners

The General Mayor of Bucharest is moving forward with significant amendments to the city's urban planning and traffic management framework. The proposed amendments to Order No. 1113/2023 will centralize the issuance of traffic permits, shifting authority directly to the Mayor. This will impact the approval process for new developments from initial urban planning to technical documentation for building permits. #Bucharest #UrbanPlanning #LegalUpdate #RealEstate #Construction #TrafficManagement

On 2nd August 2024, Order approving the Methodology for the allocation of electricity network capacity for the connection of electricity generation sites, as well as amending and supplementing some orders of the President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority in the field of connection of users to the public electricity network (the “Order No. 53/2024”) has been published in the Official Gazette, Part I, No. 758.  The primary objectives of the Order No. 53/2024 include the following: The revision of provisions of the Regulation for the connection of the users to the public interest grid (the “Grid Connection Regulation”)[1]; The implementation of the provisions of Article 25(22) of the Law on Electricity and Natural Gas No. 123/2012 (the “Energy Law”)[2], which states that “If network operators do not have sufficient capacity to connect all the electricity generation capacities for which connection has been requested, they may apply market-based methods of allocating existing capacity to networks, according to the regulations approved by ANRE”. The new rules aim to allocate available grid capacity through market-based methods and promote a mechanism that ensures a competitive environment, such is established in the Methodology regarding the allocation of electrical network capacity for the connection of electricity production sites (i.e. annex No. 1 to the Order No. 53/2024). Changes to the 2014 Grid Connection Approval: The Order No. 74/2014 of the President of ANRE for Approving the Standard Content of Technical Connection Approvals[3], shall be modified and supplemented. Modifications to the 2022 Standard Grid Connection Contracts: The Standard Grid Connection Contracts for Public Interest Electrical Networks[4], shall be modified and supplemented. The Order No. 53/2024 is effective from 2nd August 2024. However, the Methodology regarding the allocation of electrical network capacity for the connection of electricity production sites will apply starting 1st of January 2026. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. #Electricity #EnergyLaw #GridConnection #RegulationUpdate #ANRE #EnergyNews #LegalUpdate #ElectricityGeneration #RenewableEnergy #EnergySector