Photo: Sebastian Burduja/Facebook
The Government of Romania intends to extend the operation of coal power plants by three years, according to Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja.
Romania plans to lengthen the operating period of coal-fired power plants, because it hasn’t got facilities to replace them at the moment, Sebastian Burduja said, local media reported.
The unified proposition, in his words, must be presented to the European Commission to obtain exemptions, Profit.ro reported.
An extension of the operating period of coal-fired power plants is estimated at three years, he noted.
There is no other option to achieve energy security
Of note, Romania is officially planning to complete its coal phaseout in 2032. It is in line with its binding commitment under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and Territorial Just Transition Plan.
Burduja, reappointed in December 2024, proposed for the operation of the coal-fired power plants to be extended, because there is no other option to achieve energy security and replace existing coal plants.
The addition of gas-fired units from the restructuring plan for Complexul Energetic Oltenia – CE Oltenia has been delayed, he added.
Tenders were launched, such as the one for Ișalnița. However, not a single offer was submitted. The one for Electrocentrale Craiova, which includes funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, ended similarly, in his words.
New studies on the construction of the gas power plants are considered
According to Burduja, new studies on the construction of the gas power plants could be commissioned. It would mean that new tenders have to be launched, which all generates delays, he stressed.
State-owned power utility CE Oltenia, based in Târgu Jiu, is the largest producer of coal power and the third-largest producer of electricity in the country. Its restructuring plan envisages lignite-based electricity production to be replaced with natural gas and renewables.
Three years ago the European Commission approved Romania’s plan for restructuring aid for the company of EUR 2.66 billion.
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