"Smart Transition to a Digitalised and Sustainable Energy Sector"

Bucharest, 7 March 2018 - Green policies and the Circular Economy were the main topics discussed by the IRIDEX Group at the "Smart Transition to a Digitized and Sustainable Energy Sector" Forum, which took place today at the Palace of Parliament, an edition dedicated to alternative energy production and the implementation of energy efficiency principles. The event was attended by representatives of the Romanian State from relevant ministries and regulatory authorities, including Mr. Anton Anton, Minister of Energy, Mr. Petru Bogdan Cojocaru, Minister of Communications and Information Society, and the President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) - Mr. Dumitru Chiriță. Mr Iulian Iancu, Chairman of the Committee for Industries and Services of the Chamber of Deputies, was also present at the discussions.

The IRIDEX Group was represented at this meeting by Mr. Corneliu Pascu, President of IRIDEX Group, who met during the debates the main representatives of the industry or of the most powerful industry associations, including the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hidroelectrica - Mr. Bogdan Badea, the Director of the Energy Management Department of Romgaz - Mr. Bela-Atila Balasz, Advisor to the Director General of Nuclearelectrica and President - Mr. Teodor Chirica (also representative of the European Atomic Forum). Also present at the discussions were experts in energy and sustainable policies from Deloitte Romania, including Mr. Răzvan Nicolescu, and the Executive Director of the Federation of Associations of Energy Utility Companies (ACUE) - Dr. Eng. Silvia Vlăsceanu. IRIDEX, which installed the first alternative energy production technology line - so far the only one of its kind in Romania - and built one of the first energy efficient buildings in Bucharest, is involved in the implementation of smart solutions in its areas of activity, including waste management, energy efficiency, smart agriculture and smart buildings. IRIDEX is also involved in research and development projects, together with prestigious institutions in Romania and abroad, as well as in one of the most active clusters in Romania - Start Inovare.

Romania's energy strategy 2016 - 2030 or digitization and energy efficiency were the main topics discussed during this meeting, along with sustained analyses of the challenges facing the Romanian energy sector in the context of the new European Commission directives for the energy sector. The participants defined Romania's role in the energy market in South East Europe and the main development directions to achieve energy independence and security.

Innovation has been a constant in the path taken by Iridex, a group of companies with entirely Romanian private capital, which is celebrating 25 years of activity on the Romanian market, investment in technologies dedicated to the production of alternative energy being one of the main lines of development. In 2010, the IRIDEX Group took one of the most important steps towards the production of alternative energy with the construction of the first plant for the production of electricity and heat from landfill gas (from the gas produced by a household waste landfill). The plant is fully automated and monitored by a dedicated IT system, can be integrated into the energy system in an elastic way and can be programmed to operate either continuously or only during periods of peak energy demand. This plant is still unique in Romania, has an installed capacity of 3.6 Mw and 1.8 Mw and so far has more than 54 million m3 of gas recovered, with a production of approx. 120400 MWh of electricity delivered to the SEN. Among the benefits of this technology line is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by approx. 17 700 tonnes of methane (27 million m3), approx. 40 568 tonnes of carbon dioxide (20 million m3), approx. 7 300 tonnes of hydrogen sulphide (5.4 million m3).

The landfill gas recovery plants used by Iridex are the most efficient plants in the European Union, CE certified and built according to the strictest quality and environmental protection standards. The plants are operated by highly qualified personnel, based on strict procedures, verified and confirmed by the Romanian environmental authorities, and are in full compliance with Romanian environmental legislation.

About IRIDEX Group

Founded more than 25 years ago, IRIDEX Group employs more than 700 people and has a turnover of around €75 million. The group, which is wholly owned by Romanians, carries out integrated waste management works, design and operation of municipal landfills for non-hazardous waste, civil and industrial construction, infrastructure works at the highest quality standard. Iridex implements pioneering projects in various fields: promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, biogas power plants, etc.

Out of respect for the community, IRIDEX reaffirms its long-term commitment to environmentally responsible policies and to the principles of the Circular Economy, using clean facilities manufactured in the European Union, whose activity is continuously monitored and certified.