The Perfect Storm on the OPCOM Spot Market: Coal Plant Closures and Grid Speculation Under the Shadow of a 1973-Style Global Crisis — NRG-IA

Macroeconomic Context: A Global Market Under Siege The evolution of electricity prices on the spot market administered by OPCOM (the Day-Ahead Market - DAM) can no longer be decoupled from global geopolitical shocks. In the last 48 hours, the CEOs of the world's largest oil and gas companies have issued a stark warning, comparing the current crisis generated by the conflict with Iran and the possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to the 1973 Arab embargo. This massive external pressure sets a high price floor for all primary energy resources, which inevitably propagates into the cost of electricity production. Domestically, the Romanian Government initially reacted through measures to mitigate shocks on the fuel market. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced the reduction of the excise duty on diesel—a critical segment that accounts for 70% of fuel consumption in Romania. However, while public attention and immediate government efforts are focused on limiting commercial markups at…