Vulcan miners give up protests, Lonea miners continue protests underground

Vulcan miners have come out from the underground Wednesday morning, following negotiations with the Hunedoara Energy Complex (CEH) special administrator and Hunedoara County Prefect.

Special administrator Dan Agrisan and Prefect Sorin Vasilescu have had negotiations with the Lonea miners as well.

Vulcan mine ‘Muntele’ trade union leader Daniel Calimandruc said: “The miners in Vulcan have given up protests, The ones from the first shift have gone to work as usual. A miner wanted to go on hunger strike during the night, but eventually he has given up the idea.”

The miners in Lonea have announced they will continue the underground protest.

60 miners came out of the Lonea mine, but have stressed they would not give up the protest. At least 40 miners are still self-trapped underground, according to ‘Muntele’ trade union leader Petre Nica.

Some 300 miners have self-trapped 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.

The director of the Hunedoara Energy Complex, Viorel Stancu, appointed in office only a week ago, has resigned. He has been replaced by Cosmin Chiuzan, former director of Vulcan coalmine.

Some 200 miners at the nearby coal exploitation Lonea have self-incarcerated 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.

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.