Sinovel 1.2GW Romanian deal 'invalid'

ROMANIA: A recently announced strategic cooperation agreement between Chinese turbine manufacturer Sinovel and Romanian companies Rokura and C-Tech for the development of 1.2GW of Romanian wind farms is invalid, charges local developer Eolica Dobrogea.

Eolica Dobrogea said it is developing the projects in question for Spanish wind giant Iberdrola, with whom it signed an exclusivity agreement for up to 1.5GW in 2008.

Swiss firm NEK owns 50% of Eolica Dobrogea while Rokura owns 33% and former Eolica Dobrogea director Corneliu Dica, who is also director at C-Tech,  the remaining 17%. Yet Eolica Dobrogea chairman Christoph Kapp stresses that rights to the project pipeline lie with the group, not with third parties.

Dica was recently ousted from his management position at Eolica Dobrogea, which charged that actions he had taken had damaged the company’s reputation. This included Dica’s decision earlier this year to take legal action in Eolica Dobrogea’s name against Romanian TSO Transelectrica and energy regulator ANRE.

Rokura said it could not comment on the agreement with Sinovel, explaining that negotiations are still underway.