VIDEO UPDATE: Clash over EUR 1.1 billion wind farm project at Cogealac leaves five injured

UPDATE 2:  Cogealac mayor, Cati Hristu was arrested by the police this evening for 24 hours. He has to explain his involvement in the recent incident during which five people were injured by rubber bullets after a dispute with the employees of a security company contracted by CEZ for the Cogealac phase of the 600 MW wind farm. 

UPDATE 1: George Ion, a person pretending to be a CEZ employee in charge with the security related on air at a national TV station that the security company hired by CEZ didn’t act accordingly to the contract. He also related that another security company – BGS – were to be called for discussions at CEZ.

CEZ officials deny any link with the person. According to energy market sources, the person would be linked with Eolica, a company that has also plans to develop a massive wind farm in Cogealac area. Moreover, Eolica is linked with Spanish energy company Iberdrola which announced last year – according to media reports – plans to invest EUR 2.5 billion in a wind farm in Dobrogea area.

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Five people were injured by rubber bullets yesterday at Cogealac in Constanta county after a clash took place between guards at the Czech wind farm project, employees of local security company Romnational and some people, alleged local residents. The protesters were opposing the construction of the second phase of the EUR 1.1 million wind farm project developed by Czech energy company CEZ.

Protesters, lead by Cogealac mayor Cati Hristu, said that CEZ was sued for not having planning permission from village authorities.

CEZ officials told Business Review that the company received last week the necessary authorizations to erect 78 turbines, out of the total 101 turbines which have to be constructed in Cogealac.

“We expect to obtain the permits for all the 101 turbines. There is one year delay of the wind farm project because of the several trials and oppositions of the local mayor. Currently, there are 30 trials opened by the Cogealac mayor against CEZ. Regarding the incidents, we expect the result of the police’s investigations. In parallel we are conducting our own internal investigation to find out if all the procedures were followed,” Jan Veskrna, CEO CEZ Romania told Business Review.

CEZ Group is building in Dobrogea, at Cogealac and Fantanele, the largest onshore wind farm in Europe (240 wind turbines), with a total capacity of 600 MW. 

Update: watch below a video of the events:

Simona Bazavan

Dana Ciuraru, Prague