Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan announced that Romania has reached an agreement with the European Commission to keep three of its coal-fired power units in operation until 2029, following a revision of the country’s decarbonization schedule for electricity generation.
According to Ivan, the adjustment is necessary to avoid the risk of nationwide electricity shortages during peak winter demand. He described the outcome as a major success for Romania’s energy sector, achieved through complex negotiations over the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The three retained units, with a combined capacity of 1,755 MW, were originally set to close by the end of this year. Their continued operation is expected to help stabilize electricity prices, reduce reliance on costly imports, and protect approximately 4,500 jobs at the affected power plants—most of which are part of Energy Complex (EC) Oltenia.
Without the extension, Romania could have faced EU fines of up to 1.8 billion euros for failing to meet previous commitments linked to funding for gas, solar, and energy storage projects. To support the revised timeline, the Energy Ministry submitted an independent technical assessment to the European Commission, which found that under severe winter conditions, shutting down the coal units could cause electricity outages lasting up to 52 hours and increase household electricity bills by as much as 30%.
Minister Ivan emphasized that Romania had previously accepted some of the most ambitious decarbonization goals in the European Union, committing to faster emission reductions than most member states. The revised plan, he said, strikes a balance between maintaining energy security and ensuring a realistic, sustainable transition toward cleaner power generation.
