The Romanian Government decided to delay its planned decarbonization goals for the energy sector, maintaining the use of coal for an extra two years. The initial plan would have had mines and coal-related activities shut down by 31 December 2030.
Representatives of the ruling Social-Democratic Party (PSD) stressed that no energy-producing unit, including coal mines, will be closed until suitable replacements have been built.
However, the change does not mean that all existing coalmines in Romania will stay open until the new date. Several coal-based energy producers will be closed ahead of time. For example, CET Govora and Energy Complex (EC) Hunedoara will close by December 2025, and December 2030, respectively.
Energy Complex (EC) Oltenia and CET Craiova II will continue to operate until 2030 after investments meant to enable the processing of natural gas and greener energy sources. The former’s lignite-based energy output will also serve as Romania’s technical reserve. Two other units, Rovinari 3 and Turceni 7, were scheduled to close by the end of 2022, but can now operate, on request from the electricity transmission system operator Transelectrica, until 2026.
Aside from delaying the coal phase-out, the Government’s ordinance also stipulates that new energy-producing capabilities must be developed before the mines are closed.
