Some 300 miners self-incarcerated underground on Tuesday at the Vulcan coalmine of the Jiu Valley, while office staff joined the protest above the ground.
They are worried about the possible bankruptcy of the state-owned Hunedoara Energy Complex (CEH), comprising four coal mines and two thermal power plants with a total of 6,300 employees.
Trade union leader Ioan Ciubotaru confirmed 300 miners are self-trapped underground. “The miners are afraid of what the future could bring,” he said. Later on in the evening, the trade union leader announced that 50 miners needed medical care, as they failed oxygen underground.
On the other hand, the director of the Hunedoara Energy Complex, Viorel Stancu, appointed just a week ago, resigned. He was replaced by Cosmin Chiuzan, former director of Vulcan coalmine.
Some 200 miners at the nearby coal exploitation Lonea have self-incarcerated from Monday morning underground, dissatisfied with the situation of the Hunedoara Energy Complex (CEH), requiring the presence of Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu in Jiu Valley.
On Monday night, 15 of them announced they are also on a hunger strike; six were eventually taken out to get medical assistance.
Grigorescu acknowledged the difficult situation of the CEH on Monday, at a conference on energy in Bucharest. “Talks about restructuring are complicated and I understand the miners’ fears and worries, but I’m sure we’ll find solutions,” he said.
CEH has 6,300 employees at Lonea, Lupeni, Livezeni and Vulcan mines, as well as at thermal plants Mintia and Paroseni. The company is insolvent.