The Romanian prime minister recommended European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, to ask for information directly from the Government before speaking up in public on Romania’s intentions regarding the creation of a national energy company.

Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the Romanian premier, would not take lessons from Brussels in this respect as long as the sources for the Energy commissioner are not the most reliable.

The comments are a reply to Piebalgs’ critical remarks about Romanian authorities’ intention to set up an integrated energy company, “a monster”, an artificially created and maintained structure in a capitalist economy, according to the Energy commissioner.

The National Energy Strategy, endorsed by the Government last month, envisages the creation of a national energy company, comprising distinct private energy producers and the three state-based companies - Electrica Muntenia Nord, Electrica Transilvania Nord and Electrica Transilvania Sud.

The new created company would be listed on the stock market one year later and the majority shareholders would go private in the following 2-3 years when the transactions would reach 55% of the shares.

The new entity’s assets are to reach several billion euros and a good investment capacity is to be developed, following the agreement with the European legislation that foresees the separation of production, transport and distribution activities, according the Romanian Economy minister.