RSS
Romania wants to abandon lignite and coal-based energy production by December 31, 2030
Romania has established that stopping production of electricity on lignite and coal until the 31st December 2030, by withdrawing from exploitation and the complete closing down of the energy capacities installed on lignite and coal base of 4,929 MW according to a draft of emergency ordnance regarding decarbonisation of the energy sector, published for debate by the ministry of energy.
In the energy sector, coal is the main responsible for atmospheric pollution which include greenhouse gas emissions.
Coal represents an important source of electricity production, covering on average between 17.35% in 2020 and 19.66% at the level of 31st March 2022, from the total production electricity at national level, according to the data regarding ‘ The state of the energy national system in real time’ posted on the site of the National Company of Transport of Electricity Transelectrica.
‘Taking into consideration the gradual elimination of the production of electrical units on coal, with the purpose of ensuring continuation and safety for electricity supply, as well as the safe and stable functioning of the National Energy System, the putting to value the new production capacities for electricity from renewable sources and natural gas prepared for blending with hydrogen is of maximum importance. Supplementarily, to cover the deficit of the capacity created by the elimination of the coal from the energy mix, there is considered to be put into value until 2030 new capacities of hydro electrical and nuclear energy production. Through the draft of normative document there is established that the stopping of electricity production on lignite and coal is made until 31st December 2030, by the withdrawal from exploitation and the permanent closing down of the total energy capacities installed on lignite and coal base, of 4.920 MW’ the draft says.
The people who lose their workplaces as a result of the implementation of the decarbonisation programme have priority in the professional retraining courses included in the National Plan for Professional Training, as well in the professional training necessities identified at the level of Territorial Plans for Just Transition.
Taking into consideration that the economic operators mostly affected by the process of decarbonisation are in counties Gorj, Hunedoara and Dolj, there is the necessity to increase the capacity of the public services for professional training. Similarly, they can benefit from non-reimbursable financing for the acquisition of photovoltaic systems with installed power of 3-5 kW.
The diminution of the nominal electrical power of the capacities for electricity production on lignite and coal is started this year, according to the provisions of the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) through the complete withdrawal from exploitation of 660 MW on lignite and coal base, namely Grupul energetic Rovinari 3 – 330 MW; Grupul energetic Turceni 7 – 330 MW.
The final and irreversible closure of lignite-based production capacities of the Oltenia Energy complex (CEO) are also included in its restructuring plan, approved by the European Commission on 26.01.2022.
In order to ensure the safe and stable operation of the national electricity system, from 2026 until 31 December 2030, the Rovinari 4, Rovinari 5 and Turceni 5 energy groups, in the amount of 990 MW installed power, belonging to the CEO, will provide the technical reserve, Available to restart only at the request of the transmission system operator.
The period of operation of the groups as a technical reserve will be directly correlated with the implementation of the investment plan of the Oltenia energy complex and the power needs of the NEs.
The final and irreversible closure of electricity production capacities will be certified by the documents issued by the National Authority for Regulation in the Domain of Energy and the National Compnay for Electricity Transport Transelectrica.