Brasov acquires defunct power plant to attract new cross-border investments

According to Mayor Coliban, this is one of the city’s last chances for large scale strategic developments

Last week, the Municipality of Brasov in Romania announced they won the tender for the recently bankrupt district thermal power station. The station went bust near the end of last year and local authorities set their sights on the 50-hectare lot, complete with its own water supply and with great connections to the rest of the city.

Now, they have a plan for the new territory, which will attract both Romanian and international investments with a priority set on green energy and green mobility.

New land – new opportunities for the city

The municipality bought the power station for 13,5 million euros. The purchase includes three plots of land, one is the main facility, another is in one of the city’s industrial zones, and the third is a pumping station that ensures the station’s water supply.

Additionally, it also includes a smoke tower, almost 300 metres high, which is likely to be demolished after local authorities attract new investors.

The purchase will be finalised by 2023 and according to Mayor Allen Coliban, this acquisition could help put Brasov on the international map. He was quoted in a press release, saying that, considering it is one of Romania’s major towns, it is well connected by rail and road and has a well-educated population.

He also explained that this land is one of the last chances the city has to ensure major strategic development in close proximity to the centre, because of the site’s location. Furthermore, the site has major road and rail connections, making it adaptable to all kinds of developments.

Mayor Coliban continued: “It wasn't easy, there were a few obstacles along the way, "mobsters" - as I generically called them - ghost companies that tried to get in the way and get involved in this process. We managed to prove with arguments and data, with documents, that these companies have no way to represent real, serious offers, and, therefore, we were the only participants in the bidding process.”