The participants from the organisations Agent Green, Bankwatch, Bruno Manser Fonds, Corupția Ucide, EcoCivica, Hodaia, Neuer Weg, Centura Verde, Peisaj Deschis, Protect the Forests Sweden, Robin Wood, Asociația Societate Organizată Sustenabil and România Curată demand the cancellation of the environmental permit for the Taia micro-hydropower plant (MHC) and the restoration of the landscape to its original state. They installed a 12-metre banner above the Taia MHC addressed to the Romanian Government and the European Commission with the message:
« Let the Taia River flow freely! »
The Romanian NGOs Agent Green and Bankwatch are fighting in court to stop the Taia MHC, which is located in the Grădiștea Muncelului Cioclovina Natura 2000 protected area and has never been subject to an environmental impact assessment. The hydropower plant, with a capacity of only 3,78 MW, has already affected the Taia River ecosystem, endangering the European cave crayfish. Biologist Călin Dejeu pointed out in 2019 that the diversion of water through a supply pipe had harmed the natural ecosystem and degraded the habitats. The clearing of the alder forest and the construction of an access road have exacerbated the situation, and the disappearance of a waterbody essential for the reproduction of the Transylvanian crested newt has endangered species in the protected area, including the white-tailed eagle, the pond turtle and the otter. This project has thus affected the natural heritage of Hunedoara and that of Romania.
Civil society's legal battle to stop MHC Taia and protect the Taia valley has been going on for nine years. In 2016, Bankwatch Romania obtained the cancellation of the environmental permit for the construction of MHC on the Taia River. In 2018, the Alba Iulia Court of Appeal upheld this decision as final, ordering the restoration of the affected natural area. However, in 2022, the Hunedoara Environmental Protection Agency ignored the court's decision and reauthorised MHC Taia. Although Bankwatch Romania and Agent Green challenged the authorisation again, the Bucharest Court's decision was not favourable to nature, which led to the continued operation of MHC Taia and the ecosystem fragmentation. The organisations have appealed and are awaiting the decision of the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Press contact:
Ines Gavrilut
ines.gavrilut@bmf.ch, +41 61 316 3078
Additional information:
- Bankwatch, The Taia hydropower plant: the latest ecocide to hit Romania: https://bankwatch.org/blog/the-taia-hydropower-plant-the-latest-ecocide-to-hit-romania