Environment minister Intotero blames former administration for stalled Romsilva reform, radar app

Minister's first press conference

Natalia Intotero (PSD) held her first press conference since taking over the Environment Ministry on 20 October, on Tuesday, 3 November. She appeared alongside the heads of the National Meteorological Administration (ANM), Romanian Waters (Apele Române) and Romsilva, the three bodies that her predecessor Diana Buzoianu (USR) had put under scrutiny through the ministry's Control Corps. Buzoianu had called for the ANM leadership to resign and had announced the removal of Doru Cazan from Apele Române. Intotero presented the joint appearance as proof of a working style built on dialogue, in contrast with what she described as the predecessor's direct manner. ANM head Elena Mateescu answered questions about purchases made with agency cards and direct procurement contracts under investigation.

Intotero said she had found fear among staff and promised not to insult or shout at employees. She also said the previous leadership had brought more than 60 people into the ministry by transfer or secondment, mostly from the Sector 1 and Sector 2 city halls, out of 564 posts, and that she would not take revenge on them.

“I do not want any colleague to be left without a job.”

Romsilva audit and reorganization

Intotero said the Romsilva reorganization, adopted by government decision in March 2026, has been blocked since unions went to court. The audit that underpins it was completed only in August 2026, and the institution's 2026 budget was approved on 16 October. She said the audit contract, worth over 924,000 lei before VAT, was signed on 8 December 2025 by the former management, which carried out the reorganization without waiting for the audit results. A working committee now includes union representatives, and Romsilva colleagues have promised to finish the reorganization by 1 March 2027. Intotero said the ministry wants the process unblocked, but carried out on the basis of the audit and in line with the law.

Gravel pit radar and the Buzoianu response

Intotero said the Gravel Pit Radar application, launched in 2024, still does not work. Contracts for the same app total about 450,000 lei, with roughly 265,000 lei for 2024 paid in full in January 2025 and 185,000 lei in 2026. A firm contracted in February 2026 has not delivered the application, and a test in summer 2025 showed only partial functionality. An update costing about 7,500 euros, plus a government decision setting the legal framework, were still needed, and the update was cancelled so the project restarted from zero.

2024 contract (paid in full January 2025)265,000

2026 contract185,000

2024 contract (paid in full January 2025)

265000 lei

2026 contract

185000 lei

Data from the article text

Buzoianu responded that about 90% of the government decision for the radar had been drafted during her term, in parallel with the app's development, and needed only a few changes once the final version arrived.

Apele Române and the Cazan dispute

Doru Cazan was appointed in January 2026 after a selection held under Buzoianu. After Intotero took over, the order ending his mandate was revoked and he returned after four months of sick leave. Intotero gave no new evaluation or specific legal basis for his return, pointing instead to the medical leave and the earlier appointment. Cazan, who stood beside her, rejected the criticism, said he had personally helped check the Olt operations by bringing in teams from other basin administrations, and said the gravel pit activity had been halted.

“The man is the same. Only the minister has changed. I am doing nothing but respecting the law.”

Buzoianu, who had announced Cazan's removal after the Olt gravel pit scandal, objected to his return and linked it to the party in government. She also asked why inspectors from Jiu who had checked the Olt gravel pits now had their vehicles blocked, and said a decision had been taken that they could no longer use them.

Paltinu dam and the water supply

Intotero said the measures ordered after a June 2026 control at the Paltinu dam, which supplies water to Prahova County, had stayed on paper. In spring the Prahova County Council received 32 million lei from the reserve fund for an alternative water source, which its president assured the ministry would be ready by the end of 2027. Works on the dam can only begin once that source is running. Olimpia Negru, general director at Ape, was named to lead a working group that must report on progress every two weeks. Intotero tied the effort to the December 2025 crisis, when dozens of localities were left without drinking water, and said the ministry wants to make sure residents do not go through the same again.