Romania’s Ministry of Energy has announced that the coal-fired Isalnita thermal power plant in Dolj county will be permanently shut down on 1 January 2026. The plant is part of the Energy Complex (EC) Oltenia.
Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan made the announcement during a meeting with trade union representatives. Union proposals to keep the plant in reserve, including maintaining the last operational unit in conservation, were rejected. As a result, workers on fixed-term contracts will be laid off, while permanent staff will be reassigned to other sites within the complex, namely the Turceni and Rovinari thermal power plants.
Of the eight generating units originally built at Isalnita, only one remained operational in recent years and has been in cold reserve since 2024. While the closure of TPP Isalnita is confirmed, the Ministry noted that the phase-out schedule for other coal-fired facilities in Romania may be extended, reflecting the need to balance energy transition objectives with supply security.
