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Kinstellar advises Repono on the acquisition of a battery energy storage project in Arges County, Romania
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has advised Repono, a Sweden-based pan-European energy storage operator, on its acquisition of a 202 MW/404 MWh (2.0 h) standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) project located in Arges County, Romania. The project, developed by a Bucharest-based renewable energy developer, is ready-to-build and benefits from an existing grid connection contract with Transelectrica at the 220 kV Pitești Substation. Once operational, it will play a pivotal role in enhancing grid stability, balancing renewable generation, and advancing both Romania’s and the EU’s decarbonisation goals. The transaction was led by Iustinian Captariu, Head of firm-wide energy sector, with Ioana Criste
Ready or not, it’s here: Transelectrica approves the grid capacity allocation procedure, effective next year
Amid market rumours (largely reflecting developers’ hopes) that the auction-based capacity allocation procedure for new power supplies to the grid would be delayed by the Romanian authorities, on 3 October 2025, CNTEE Transelectrica (the “TSO”) published on its website the Procedure for allocating electricity grid capacity for connecting electricity generation sites (the “Procedure”). The publication nonetheless came after the deadline set by the methodology on the allocation of electricity grid capacity for connecting electricity generation sites, approved by Order no. 53/2024 (the “Methodology”). I. Main rules for the allocation of capacity effective next year The main rules for the capacity allocation
NAMR draft amending Romania’s Petroleum Law with impact on concessions: two new guarantees to be provided by the titleholders
On 8 October 2025, the National Regulatory Authority for Mining, Petroleum, and Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide (“NAMR”) has launched for public consultation a draft bill for amending and supplementing the Petroleum Law no. 238/2004 (the “Draft Law”) (Romanian version available here). Comments to the Draft Order may be submitted to NAMR by 17 October 2025. Context and main provisions of the Draft Law The Draft Law hints at strategic changes contemplated with regard to concession agreements in Romania. The statement of reasons for the Draft Law highlights the need to revisit the existing framework to ensure adequate financial coverage for restoration and environmental compliance, as well as securing
Draft biomethane legislation promises new opportunities on Romania’s energy market
Although biomethane has been regulated by Romania’s Gas Law no. 123/2012 the (“Law 123/2012”) for many years, in practice the development of projects remained blocked. The key obstacle has been the refusal of grid operators to allow the interconnection of such projects, relying on outdated wording of the legal definitions of distribution and transmission gas networks. As a consequence of the above - and given Romania’s ambitions towards achieving a share of at least 5% biomethane in the total volume of gas transported through the National Transmission System and distribution system by 2030 - the Ministry of Energy recently published for public consultation the draft Government Emergency Ordinance for the amendment
Kinstellar announces new Office Managing Partner in Bucharest – Iustinian Captariu to take over leadership as of 1 September 2025
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that, effective 1 September 2025, Partner Iustinian Captariu has been appointed as the new Office Managing Partner of the Bucharest Office. He succeeds Victor Constantinescu, who has successfully led the office for six years and will focus on further strengthening the firm’s Real Estate practice, where he serves as firm-wide co-head, as well as contributing to the Bucharest Office and broader strategic initiatives in the Firm. Iustinian has been with Kinstellar since its inception, having previously worked with Linklaters. He heads the firm-wide Energy sector and service line, as well as the local Energy and Competition service lines. He is also a member of the Firm’s Management
Romania adopts first set of investment screening guidelines
On 30 July 2025, Romania enacted its first set of guidelines dealing with investment screening aspects (the “Guidelines”), generally codifying authorities’ practice so far and views on particular aspects. The Guidelines were adopted by the Romanian Competition Council (“RCC”), which hosts the secretariat of the Commission for the Screening of Foreign Direct Investment (the body entrusted with carrying out the screening of investments). The RCC is also entrusted with issuing the national security clearances for non-problematic cases. A draft of the Guidelines was initially launched into public consultation by the RCC in mid-February 2025 and interested parties had until 11 March 2025 to provide feedback. The publication
Kinstellar strengthens its Energy & Natural Resources practice in Bucharest with the hire of Counsel Raluca Gabor
Kinstellar is delighted to welcome Raluca Gabor as Counsel in its Bucharest office, further strengthening and expanding our Energy & Natural Resources practice in Romania and across the region. Raluca Gabor brings over a decade of experience advising on complex energy, natural resources and infrastructure projects, ranging from renewables, conventional electricity, onshore and offshore oil & gas, mining, natural resources and petrochemicals. In addition to Energy & Infrastructure, she also covers Corporate and M&A, with a strong emphasis on large-scale project development and regulatory compliance. Raluca’s expertise covers the full lifecycle of energy and infrastructure projects — from permitting
Romania fine tunes procedure on treating allegedly privileged communication during dawn raids
The Romanian Parliament has amended Competition Law no. 21/1996 (the "Competition Law") through Law No. 111/2025 approving Government Emergency Ordinance No. 99/2024, amending and supplementing certain legislative acts in the field of competition ("Law 111/2025"). Effective 26 June 2025, the Romanian Competition Council (the "RCC") has received refined procedural guidance for handling communications claimed to be protected by legal professional privilege ("LPP") during dawn raids. Law 111/2025 amends, among others, Art. 38 paras. (9) and (11) of the Competition Law, replacing the July 2024 version, itself introduced to fix a highly questionable earlier formulation which had controversially allowed RCC inspectors to read
Auction for the concession of 18 mineral perimeters launched in Romania
Romania’s National Regulatory Authority for Mining, Petroleum and Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide (ANRMPSG) has announced a new bidding procedure for 18 exploration concessions, as outlined in Order no. 280/2025, published in the Official Gazette of Romania on 10 June 2025. This bidding round includes mineral deposits such as limestone (industrial and construction alike), dolerite, salt, lignite, coal, tar sand, polymetallic ore (including gold-silver ore), graphite and feldspar. The concession areas are primarily located in Western Romania (Caras-Severin, Hunedoara, Mehedinti, Valcea, Gorj and Bihor counties), with additional sites in Wallachia and Moldavia. Romanian and international companies interested
Regional report: Energy and natural resources trends in the CEE and Central Asia for the year 2025
We are excited to release the first edition of the Report | Energy and Natural Resources Trends in the CEE and Central Asia for the year 2025. This comprehensive report provides an overview of the latest and emerging developments in the energy and natural resources sector across Kinstellar’s jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the opportunities and advancements in renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, hydrogen, nuclear, or oil & gas—each tailored to the specific energy landscape in: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Designed for investors and industry professionals, the report brings forward an overview of the
Romania to hold first CfD renewables auction in coming weeks
Romania is set to hold its first contracts for difference (“CfD”) auction in the next few weeks. The Ministry of Energy has taken further steps and issued the order for initiating the CfD auction under the CfD scheme. On 6 September 2024, Order No. 1290/2024, approving the launch of the first auction for the State aid scheme in the form of contracts for difference for the production of electricity from renewable sources of onshore wind and solar photovoltaic energy, as well as the rules of the procedure for the first auction (“Order 1290/2024”), was published in the Official Gazette of Romania and entered into force on the same date. The total capacity targeted is 1,500 MW of renewables; specifically
Romania strengthens screening of EU investments
Further to the December 2023 amendments to the Romanian regime for screening inbound direct investments (that we previously covered here), which formally included EU investors within the scope of screening, the Romanian Parliament has adopted a new law (the “New Law”) to further strengthen the approach towards EU investors. The New Law explicitly extends to EU investors the sanctions regime previously applicable to non-EU investors. Gun jumping will be treated in the same manner regardless of the investor’s nationality, with potential sanctions of up to 10% of worldwide turnover applicable to EU and non-EU investors alike. This was not an oversight in the December 2023 amendments, but rather the government’s preferred