Romania plans to request a three-year extension from the European Commission (EC) for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants and coal mines operated by Energy Complex Oltenia. This delay would adjust the timeline outlined in EC Oltenia’s restructuring plan, which was previously agreed upon with the Commission and incorporated into the national energy decarbonization strategy.
The transition to gas-fired power plants, intended to replace coal-based capacity, is behind schedule. Prematurely closing the lignite-fired units could severely affect the country’s energy production. Romania is currently committed to phasing out coal-fired units with a total installed capacity of 2,085 MW by 2026. However, EC Oltenia’s investment projects— including two natural gas-fired plants with a combined capacity of 1,325 MW, eight solar plants totaling 690 MW, and the refurbishment of a 10 MW hydropower plant— are facing delays.
The solar plants were initially expected to be operational by June 2024, while the gas-fired plants had a completion deadline of June 2026. Recent projections, however, indicate that the gas plants might not be operational until March and July 2028, and the solar plants could be delayed until June and November 2026. As a result, EC Oltenia plans to hire consultants to develop a proposal to modify and extend the restructuring plan.
The Romanian government intends to submit this revised plan for approval by the European Commission.
