Romania’s plans to build 2.15 GW of combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) capacity face serious doubts over economic viability and long-term utility, according to the European Resource Adequacy Assessment 2024 (ERAA 2024) published by ENTSO-E, the association of Europe’s transmission system operators.
The ERAA 2024 warns that if the new gas plants are constructed, they should be decommissioned by 2035 due to economic concerns. The findings are based on Romania’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), existing investment strategies, and data from market participants. While the NECP calls for replacing phased-out coal capacity with CCGT plants, ENTSO-E’s economic viability assessment shows that the proposed gas units would not be sustainable beyond 2035.
Facilities under this plan include the Iernut (430 MW), Mintia (860–1,700 MW), and Ișalnița and Turceni plants (1,325 MW combined). However, ENTSO-E notes that the commissioning of these projects is highly uncertain. This could have a negative impact not just on Romania but on regional electricity adequacy, particularly in terms of loss-of-load expectations (LOLE).
The Mintia project received a construction permit in January, and Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja announced in March that it should be operational next year. However, progress has been slow across the board. Burduja admitted that tenders, such as the one for Ișalnița, have failed to attract any bids. This delay is one of the reasons cited for the continued operation of coal-fired power plants, despite Romania’s broader goals of transitioning to gas and renewable energy.
CE Oltenia, Romania’s largest coal power producer, is central to this restructuring effort. Its plan includes replacing lignite with gas and renewables at the Ișalnița and Turceni sites. But with key projects stalled and economic assessments turning negative, Romania’s energy transition risks falling behind schedule.
