BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - (July 12, 2002) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) signed a $293,000 grant today with the Municipality of Buzau, Romania, to provide funding for a feasibility study on modernizing and repowering the district heating system in Buzau. This grant is a continuation of TDA's commitment to assist in the development of Romania's energy sector, as well as district heating facilities throughout Southeast Europe. The grant was signed by Mr. Jonathon Marks, Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, and by the Deputy Mayor of Buzau, Mr. Nicolae Franculescu.

The $293,000 study will assess the technical, financial and environmental aspects of repowering the existing heat only plant to combined heat and power capabilities, providing steam/hot water and electricity to Buzau City. The Buzau City Municipality believes that repowering the existing plant with combined heat and power capabilities will improve the efficiency of the City's heat generation. The project sponsors plan to finance significant costs of the project through sales of electricity within the municipality and surplus sales to the national electricity grid. The U.S. contractor for this study will be selected through an open competition, with the RFP to be issued through Federal Business Opportunities (www.fedbizopps.gov).

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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