Romanian Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan has confirmed that he is negotiating with the European Commission to postpone the 2025 deadline for closing the country’s coal mines and coal-fired power plants. Romania had committed to shutting down these facilities by the end of next year as part of an agreement made five years ago in exchange for substantial EU funding intended to support the construction of new power generation capacities.
Although Romania has received billions of euros in funding, the gas-fired plants intended to replace coal power are still in the planning stage. This delay has left the country facing some of the highest electricity prices in Europe, while thousands of jobs at EC Oltenia and in the Jiu Valley remain at risk.
Minister Ivan stressed that the current situation is unsustainable, with only months left until the agreed closure deadline. He warned that decommissioning coal-fired power plants without replacement capacities in place would drive up energy prices and exacerbate social and economic challenges. He argued that keeping these units temporarily operational is necessary to protect households, businesses, and jobs while the new gas-fired facilities are completed.
The Minister noted that the challenges now facing Romania’s energy system result from years of delays, during which replacement projects advanced on paper but did not deliver actual energy output. His discussions in Brussels are aimed at securing more time for Romania to implement new capacities, stabilize the energy market, and ensure a secure energy supply.
