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Oltenia Energy Complex exporting 300 MW worth of electricity to Romania's neighbours
The southern Oltenia Complex is currently exporting 300 MW worth of electricity to Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary and Serbia, State Secretary with Romania's Department of Energy Maricel Popa said Thursday at a conference on mining.
'The Oltenia Energy Complex is operating on a free market. Currently, it is exporting 300 MW to Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova. These are not long-term contracts, but monthly ones,' said Popa.
He added that Romania's lignite resources will suffice for at least 50 years more at the current production pace. The lignite sector is currently employing over 12,000 miner, he said.
Popa added that 60 million euros more will be needed for mining development in the next two-three years, particularly to bring production costs down at viable hard coal mines in Jiu Valley. The official said hard coal extraction costs have to go down by 40 per cent for the activity to be efficient.
'We have to invest so that the hard coal may stay in business, so that we may cut losses in two-three years. The money will come from the budget of the Hunedoara Complex as well as the Government,' said Popa.
He also said that a draft government decision is currently on the Government's table for the opening of a new uranium mine in Romania, voicing hope that the decision will pass by the end of the year.
The Romanian Government contemplates opening a new uranium mine at Grinties, Neamt County, because the reserves form the only operating uranium mine in Romania, at Crucea, Suceva County, are about to get depleted.