Restructuring of coal mining in Romania between the climate crisis and the energy transition

Abstract

The Romanian energy market is dependent on about a third of total production on the use of fossil fuels, hard coal and lignite and natural gas, especially in the winter months or dry summers, coal still being of strategic importance in producing electricity and ensuring energetic security. However, the sharp changes in climate in recent years have led to the conclusion of environmental agreements, with objectives aimed at long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and which clearly require a reduction in the capacity to produce one kilowatt of thermal energy and identify solutions for transition to clean energy. Where will the Hunedoara Energy Complex and the Oltenia Energy Complex be located in this context? This paper aims to analyze the process of restructuring coal mining, the competitiveness of coal in the electricity mix and possibly the future prospects of restructured mining areas.