Radio România Internațional

Tag: deposit

  • November 30, 2023 UPDATE

    November 30, 2023 UPDATE


    COP28 The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis travels to Dubai on Friday, to attend the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, with 140 heads of state expected to take part. The conference started on Thursday with the adoption of a historic decision to finance losses and damages for the countries affected by global warming. The year 2023 has been the hottest on record, with an average global temperature approx. 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, the World Meteorological Organization announced.



    DEFENCE Romanias new Army Chief of Staff is the general lieutenant Gheorghiţă Vlad. At the swearing in ceremony on Thursday, president Klaus Iohannis said gen. lt. Vlad was entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on the Armys process of adapting to new challenges and of maintaining a high level of battle training for the troops. We need more determined measures to re-launch the national defence industry, the president also said, including through industrial cooperation, so that a larger share of the ammunition and equipment we need may be produced domestically. This and the high level of military training, will ensure a strong and credible defence capacity, adapted to the new security challenges, the head of state added.



    RECYCLING In Romania, the deposit and return scheme for beverage containers became operational on Thursday. Romania will run the second-largest programme of this kind in Europe, after the one in Germany, in terms of the number of containes processed. Romanians who pay a 10-Eurocent deposit on purchasing bottled beverages from retailers will be able to return the container to drop-off centres organised by retailers, and will be refunded their deposits without having to produce the receipt for the original purchase. Deposit-carrying containers will be introduced gradually, with a transition period until current stocks in shops are sold out.



    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu took part on Wednesday in an informal dinner ahead of the OSCE ministerial council in Skopje, organised by the rotating chairmanship holder, North Macedonia. Talks focused on Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and the need for an efficient OSCE in times of conflict. In her address, the Romanian diplomat emphasised the difficult circumstances in which the Organisation operates, in the context of Russias unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine. She also reiterated Romanias solidarity with the Ukrainian people, emphasising the multi-dimensional support given to Ukraine. Luminiţa Odobescu also highlighted the negative impact on the Republic of Moldova, the social and economic difficulties facing Moldova as a result of Russias various pressures, as well as the relevance of Moldova in the security dynamics of the region.



    UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate in Romania was 5.4% in October, below the 6% EU average, the European Statistics Office announced. According to data released on Thursday, the Eurostat puts the number of unemployed people in the EU at nearly 13 million. The unemployment rate was 14.8% among youth, 6.4% among women and 5.8% among men. The lowest figure in October was reported in Malta – 2.5%, and the highest in Spain – 12%.



    HOLIDAY On Thursday Christians celebrated St. Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Romania. Historical records indicate that Saint Andrew preached in Scythia, in the north and west of the Black Sea, including present-day Dobrudja, where he ordained priests and bishops who took the word of Christ to the Dacian population between the Danube and the Carpathians. As such, he is recognised as the patron saint of Romania. He was martyred by crucifixion in the city of Patras, in Greece. (AMP)


  • November 30, 2023

    November 30, 2023

    DEFENCE Romania’s new Army Chief of Staff is the general lieutenant
    Gheorghiţă Vlad. At the swearing in ceremony on Thursday, president Klaus
    Iohannis said Vlad was entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on the
    Army’s process of adapting to new challenges and of maintaining a high level of
    battle training for the troops. We need more determined measures to re-launch
    the national defence industry, the president also said, including though
    industrial cooperation, so that a larger share of the ammunition and equipment
    we need to be produced domestically. This and the high level of military
    training, will ensure a strong and credible defence capacity, adapted to the
    new security challenges, the head of state added.

    RECYCLING In
    Romania, the deposit and return scheme for beverage containers became
    operational on Thursday. Romania will run the second-largest programme of this
    kind in Europe, after the one in Germany, in terms of the number of containes
    processed. Romanians who pay a 10-Eurocent deposit on purchasing bottled
    beverages from retailers will be able to return the container to drop-off
    centres organised by retailers, and will be refunded their deposits without
    having to produce the receipt for the original purchase. Deposit-carrying
    containers will be introduced gradually, with a transition period until current
    stocks in shops are sold out.


    DIPLOMACY The
    Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu took part on Wednesday in an
    informal dinner ahead of the OSCE ministerial council in Skopje, organised by
    the rotating chairmanship holder, North Macedonia. Talks focused on Russia’s
    war of aggression against Ukraine and the need for an efficient OSCE in times
    of conflict. In her address, the Romanian diplomat emphasised the difficult
    circumstances in which the Organisation operates, in the context of Russia’s
    unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine. She also
    reiterated Romania’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, emphasising the
    multi-dimensional support given to Ukraine. Luminiţa Odobescu also highlighted
    the negative impact on the Republic of Moldova, the social and economic
    difficulties facing Moldova as a result of Russia’s various pressures, as well
    as the relevance of Moldova in the security dynamics of the region.


    KISSINGER The
    former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who played a major role in shaping
    the US foreign policy under presidents Nixon and Ford, died on Wednesday aged
    100, the BBC announced. Kissinger was a national security adviser and a state
    secretary between 1969 and 1977, during which the US ended its involvement in
    the Vietnam War, opened its relations with China and saw the end of hostilities
    in the wake of the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Middle East. He won the Nobel
    Peace Prize, although his opponents claiming his role in bombing Cambodia and Laos
    amounted to war crime. He pioneered the concept of Realpolitik, which values
    pragmatism in international relations, the BBC also said.


    HOLIDAY Christians
    celebrate today Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Romania. Historical records
    indicate that Saint Andrew preached in Scythia, in the north and west of the
    Black Sea, including present-day Dobrudja, where he ordained priests and
    bishops who took the word of Christ to the Dacian population between the Danube
    and the Carpatians. As such, he is recognised as the patron saint of Romania. He
    was martyred by crucifixion in the city of Patras, in Greece.


    ISRAEL An attack
    by 2 Palestinians in western Jerusalem at rush hour killed 3 people and wounded
    7 others, 4 of whom are in a serious condition. The attack took place as the
    truce between Israel and Hamas was renewed for the 7th consecutive
    day, in order to carry on the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian
    prisoners. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the attackers were
    identified as Hamas supporters and had been formerly imprisoned in Israel. As
    for the new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the revised list of hostages to
    be freed only includes 8 children. Hamas explained that this was because of the
    2 Israelis with dual, Russian and Italian citizenship, who were released
    yesterday in a show of goodwill towards the Russian president Vladimir Putin. (AMP)

  • The deposit and return system at the start line

    The deposit and return system at the start line

    Romania is implementing a deposit and return
    scheme aimed at more efficiently recycling beverage containers. The scheme will
    be operational as of Thursday, with Romanians due to pay a 10-Eurocent deposit
    when buying a bottled beverage from a retailer. After they finish the drinks, consumers will have to drop
    off the containers to one of the return centres set up by retailers and will be
    refunded the deposit, without having to produce a receipt for the original
    purchase.


    Beverages will gradually start to have a deposit
    for container label in stores, the programme managers said, and only beverages
    carrying that label will require the payment of a deposit. When both types of containers are sold by
    a retailer at the same time, the deposit-carrying products must be indicated clearly
    and separately, so that consumers may be aware of the products for which they
    can be refunded their 10-Eurocent deposit.


    The environment
    minister, Mircea Fechet, estimates that in a few years’ time, Romania will
    improve its recycling rate significantly:


    Mircea Fechet: If we look at the present situation, we see
    the separate collection rate, and implicitly the recycling rate, is extremely
    low, 12% – 13%. If we look at the performance of the deposit and return schemes
    in other European countries, we can see that in Germany, for instance, this
    rate is 95% for glass bottles and 98% for aluminium cans. Now, maybe it will
    take some time for us to catch up with Germany, but starting with the 3rd
    year of operation the scheme should have performance parameters above 90%. Which
    I believe is an extraordinary progress for Romania.ˮ


    The environment
    minister also emphasised that this is the largest public-private partnership in
    Romania, and that Romania’s is the second-largest deposit and return scheme in
    Europe after the one in Germany. I expect not only good cooperation between
    all stakeholders, but also patience, because I am confident that in 5 years’
    time, when we see a clean country, a country free of plastic bottles and other packaging
    waste, we will be able to say that introducing this system was a very good
    idea,ˮ Mr. Fechet said.


    The company that manages the scheme estimates
    that by mid-2024 all beverages targeted
    by the deposit and return scheme will be found in stores in appropriately labelled
    containers. All retailers must set up return centres and sign agreements for container
    pick-up.


    The first container
    sorting centre in the integrated collection and recycling system was opened on
    Monday in Cluj County (north-west). Further centres will be opened in Timiş (west),
    Bacău (east) and Bucharest (south). (AMP)

  • Huge Gas Field Found in Black Sea

    Huge Gas Field Found in Black Sea

    The major discovery in the Black Sea is already making the headlines in Romania. After exploration works in Romanias territorial waters, which began in 2011, a consortium made up of the Russian company Lukoil Overseas, held by Lukoil group, the American company PanAtlantic and the Romanian Romgaz, identified a natural gas field with a volume put at some 30 billion cubic meters. This is a preliminary figure, pending for the findings of the assessment drilling. If the volume is confirmed, processing works may take at least 7 years and will very likely require investments of billions of US dollars. Dumitru Rotar, the deputy executive manager and exploration-production manager of Romgaz, told Radio Romania that the entire amount could cover Romanias needs for 3 years, considering that the national annual consumption stands at 11 billion cubic meters. Dumitru Rotar:



    Dumitru Rotar: “In around 7 years time, the gas from these reserves will probably reach the homes of Romanians. After we start the processing works, we will be able to use these 30 billion cubic meters for 10, perhaps even 15 years. In theory, if we divide the amount of gas in this reserve by the annual consumption figures for Romania at present, we can safely say that it covers the entire need for 3 years.



    But does this mean that Romanians may see their natural gas bills reduced? Apparently, its too soon to tell. Here is the deputy executive manager of Romgaz:



    Dumitru Rotar: “Developing these reserves means, first of all, incomes for the state budget. For the citizens in general, it means security and reliability in the supply of natural gas. I wouldnt venture to say anything about what the price of natural gas will be in 10 years time.



    The area where the 30-billion cubic metre deposit was found is on the Black Sea continental shelf that The Hague court awarded to Romania in 2009 at the expense of Ukraine. Further to the dispute between Bucharest and Kiev, the Romanian state got 9,700 sq km, whose potential, according to experts, is huge. This is also the place where, 3 years ago, OMV Petrom and Exxon Mobile announced another notable find, with preliminary estimates pointing to an 84-billion cubic metre natural gas deposit. A lot of voices argue that the deposits in the Black Sea can secure Romanias and other countries energy independence from Russian natural gas. In fact, in Romania the domestic needs are almost fully covered by OMV Petrom and Romgaz.