Expert Forum has released a new analysis on the stage of implementing projects in the National Investment Program (PNI) Anghel Saligny, the data being made available by the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA).
Thousands of yards were opened throughout the photo: Archive Adevărul
The implementation of projects evolves differently from county to county. The total number of approved projects reached, on March 31, 2025 (the date of reporting the project stage), on 4,945. Of these, financing contracts were signed for 3,959 projects (and 3,152 beneficiaries). Of the total beneficiaries, 2,839 signed at least one financing contract.
At the end of March 2025, in over 1,000 contracted projects, totaling 11 billion lei, no settlement was requested. 18 of these are worth over 50 million lei each.
The program budget, enlarged for 2025 from the reserve fund
The total value of the projects approved on the infrastructure program has increased from 52.2 billion lei to 53 billion lei, the Expert Forum shows (it is considered as a reporting basis the previous report, in which Expert Forum analyzed the data valid on June 30, 2024). As for the contracted amount, “the 38 billion lei from our previous report are added about 6.4 billion lei, totaling 44.4 billion lei”, the Efor report shows.
“For 2025 the budget of the Ministry for PNI Anghel Saligny was 10 billion lei. However, the government allocated another 7.6 billion lei, from the Government’s reserve fund, especially towards the end. In view that it was done in an electoral context ”, It is also mentioned in the EFOR report.
Between June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2025 the number of approved projects increased by 67, reaching a total of 4,945. Of these, financing contracts were signed for 3,959 (compared to 3,477 in the last report).
Counties with the highest allocations for natural gas: Suceava and Vrancea
Only for MDLPA gas networks approved 812 projects, worth 12.9 billion lei. From the approved amounts, 5.5 billion lei were contracted and 1.3 billion lei were settled.
Analyzing the evolution of the data in the 41 counties, Efor shows that the largest amount allocated is next to Suceava counties – 1.2 billion lei and Vrancea – 616 million lei respectively.
In contrast, the beneficiaries from Covasna settled the most – 73%, and those from Caraș Severin, Ialomița and Bistrița Năsăud did not settle any leu.
“585 out of 812 projects did not register any settlement. Only 10 projects were completed 100%, and 4 over 90%. Although we do not know the technical content of the projects, an empirical analysis of the costs per meter (the amount contracted/network length) shows that there are quite high discrepancies between the costs of some projects”, is shown in the report cited.
Nearly 1,000 approved and uncontrolled projects
There are still a number of projects that have been approved, but for which no contracts were signed. The number of projects in this situation is 986, which belong to a number of 718 unique beneficiaries. Reported to the number of projects left uncontrolled, most are found in Harghita (64), Covasna (49) and Mehedinti (42) counties. At the same time, Iasi, Teleorman and Vâlcea counties have only 4 uncontrolled projects each.
The counties of Argeș (149), Suceava (138) and Hunedoara (136) have the most projects contracted out of a total of 3,959, while Brașov (59), Galați (59), Ilfov (58) and Braila (55) close the ranking.
“If we take into account the number of projects initially approved, Iași / Vâlcea (97%) and Teleorman (96%) have the highest percentage of projects contracted by MDLPA. Brașov (63%), Galati / Ilfov (61%) are codașe.
Suceava counties (104), Dolj (98) and Iași (97) have the most beneficiaries with all the contracted projects. Giurgiu (28) and Covasna / Harghita (27) are in the opposite side of the standings ”, Efor shows.
How much the ministry settled and whom the money goes to
The amount settled by MDLPA reached 17.4 billion lei, compared with 6.9 billion lei in the previous Efor report. Distances (partial or total) were carried out for 2,950 projects (1,969 in the previous report).
“Of the 3,959 contracted projects, for 1.009 no settlement was carried out. We have no information on the reasons why no settlement was made. We do not have exact statistics related to the physical stage of project implementation, but we can speculate based on the data regarding the amount settled from the contracted one. An indicator would be the objective stage field, being based on the beneficiaries’ statement, completing at the settlement applications. Thus, 355 projects are at a 100% stage (increase with 242), 1,394 settled between 50% and 99% (increase by 872), and 1.201 have settled below 49% (decrease with 131) ”mentions Efor in the report.
In conclusion, there is a general progress, but still a significant percentage of projects did not settle even half of the contracted amount, and for a large number of projects there was no settlement: 1009 projects, worth 11 billion lei. Of these, 18 projects have approved budgets of over 50 million lei, monitoring shows.
There are 18 projects with values of over 50 million for which no leu has been settled. EFOR report
In three counties there are dozens of projects for which no leu was requested for settlement: Hunedoara (53), Mureș (40) and Olt (39). At the opposite pole are Iasi / Suceava (14) and Galați (5).
Most completed projects are instead in Vaslui – 27, Buzau – 21 and Argeș – 21 each, and the fewest in Tulcea – 3, Arad -3 and Brașov -2.
As for the amounts settled, the first in the top is Iași county -with 787 million lei, followed by Argeș -741 and Teleorman -713 Miliaone lei. The least settled the counties of Ilfov – 153 million lei, Covasna – 152 million lei and Brașov – 121 million lei.
The communes were approved by projects totaling almost 40 billion lei (39.6 billion). Of this money, 33 billion lei were contracted and 14 billion lei were settled (41% of the contracted value).
“The county councils approved projects worth 5.5 billion lei, contracted 4.7 billion (0.4 billion extra) and settled 1.5 billion (1 billion). The settlements represent 27% of the approved amount and 32% of the contracted amount – increases of 18, respectively 20 percentage points related to the last EFOR analysis.
For the municipalities, 2.9 billion were approved, these contract 2.3 billion (increase of 0.3 billion) and settle 1.2 billion (increase of 0.9 billion). In other words, they settled 52% (16% at the last analysis) as they contracted and 41% (11% in the previous report) from the value of the approved projects.
The cities settled 1.2 billion lei, representing 37% of the value of the contracted projects (3.2 billion) and 30% of the value of the approved projects (3.9 billion). The previous percentages were 16%, respectively 10%”, The report shows.
30 projects for Bucharest, of 928 million lei
“As a general remark, Bucharest should benefit very limited by these funds, which are intended for communities that need resources for development, not to large municipalities, which have many more resources. Approval of a mammoth project – to strengthen the ceiling in Unirii Square – is an exception from the purpose of the program and we consider that it is removed from the declared principles of this program ”, he considers Efor.
For Bucharest, 30 projects were approved, worth 928 million lei, of which 838 million lei were contracted. Sectors 1 and 5 have a project each, Sector 4 has 2 (including the Union ceiling), Sector 3 has 7, Sector 2 has 9, and sector 6 has the most -10.
“Of these, only 10 (33%) were contracted, well below the national average at the county level. Sector 4 is the only one who has all the contracted projects. Sectors 1, 2 and 5 do not have any contracted project ”, it is shown in the EFOR report.
The settlements carried out for projects at the level of the municipality of Bucharest total about 66 million lei, ie 8% of the contracted amount. This money went to only four projects, of which 2 are completed (sectors 3 and 6).
53% of the projects have appointed executor
When it comes to purchases, the data show that out of a total of 4,945 projects, 2,976 have designated designer (60%), and 2,641 have (53%).
“Between the companies that received the most money from the contracts from the town halls and the county councils, several winners with a political profile or who have been in investigations (…). The reasons why they earn many contracts than they would have done normally.notes the authors of the report.
Where there are associations of companies the analysis is more difficult, because the role and part of the contract associated with each contractor cannot be quantified. “In order to have this information we should ask for all the purchase contracts, which is not realistic. Thus, the statistics below take into account only the leaders of the associations where they exist”, Efor shows, presenting the first 20 builders according to the total contracted value of the projects won.
Analyzing the political membership of the edils that implement the projects at the local level, Efor shows that at the county mayors and councils, the PSD are found, totaling 54%of the total value, at PNL 37%, and 6%UDMR.
“54% of the total settled amount went to the town halls currently owned by the PSD (46% in the previous report), 37% to PNL (45%) and 5% to UDMR, indicating a more advanced growth rate for the PSD beneficiaries. We must also take into account that some of the liberal mayors have migrated, which explains a part of this change”mentions the report.
The town halls currently owned by the PSD have settled all the money for 209 projects, PNL 116 and UDMR 17. “In general, there are a variety of UATs with which the companies that have performed works work. In relatively few cases, a company has more than 4-5 contracts with a single entity, such examples being Cornell’s Floor, Erbașu constructions or prof invest ”Efor shows.
Most companies have contracts with UATs that are driven by both PSD and PNL. “However, we have identified companies that have concluded contracts exclusively with a single party. For example, Condor Paduraru concluded contracts of 40 million lei with 4 PSD administrations. ING Service has contracts concluded with 10 localities governed by the UDMR. PRENIS has contracts of over 90 million lei with liberal administrations. Uni Global type concluded contracts of 57 million lei with 3 liberal administrations. CASSAS SRL concluded 8 contracts worth 75 million lei with 8 UATs led by PSD ”, it is shown in the quoted report.
