The representatives of Emc Rosia trade union with the Oltenia Energy Complex (CEO) warn that Romania risks huge energy crisis if temperatures keep lows of -15, -20 degrees Celsius during the coming days, cotitianul.ro reports.
“The Oltenia thermal plants might not have enough coal reserves. For example, the reserves are as follows: at Rovinari plant – about 250,000 tins, at Turceni – 150,000-200,000 tons, at Isalnita – 100,000 tons, at Craiova – 180,000 tons. Overall there are about 700,000 tons. CEO works in 10-11 energy groups and the consumption has reached about 100,000 tons per day. This means we have ahead 6-7 days of full capacity output, afterwards no one could save the national energy system and Romanians will have to stay in the dark and freeze,” a notification from the trade unionists to the Energy Minister Toma Petcu reads.
During the winter directorate sitting, the minister said: “For producing electric energy we have supplemented the plants in Turceni, Craiova, Isalnita, we restarted the Mintia group with the Hunedoara Energy Complex by 150MW. CET Govora produces 50MW, we have hydro-energy reserves of 1,000 MW, of which 400MW were consumed, we still have as reserve 600MW. We have an estimated electric energy consumption of 9,500MW while the current consumption is of 9,000MW.”
The coal pits have been supplemented with workers to increase the extraction capacity. “We intend to keep reserves for four days, what is extracted is to be used for current consumption,” the minister added.
The trade unionists argue that in order to extract more coal, more working areas are needed. Let’s not forget that during summertime about 300,000 tons are extracted in one month at Rosia. The Oltenia pits may produce about 100,000 tons at this temperature. We hope the government and the parliament will amend the legal framework, currently not useful for coal extraction. (…) Otherwise we might face the problems Bulgaria is facing now, if not worse,” trade unionists say.