Government Maintains Coal Phase-Out Calendar and Prepares Regulations Against Energy Grid Connection Speculators — NRG-IA

What Happened: Accelerated Decarbonization and Government Warnings The architecture of the Romanian energy system is undergoing a period of major legislative transformations. The Government recently approved a new Emergency Ordinance regarding the decarbonization of the energy sector, a normative act that aligns national legislation with the commitments made through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). According to the decision, the executive maintains the strict schedule for closing coal-based electricity generation capacities. In parallel with this withdrawal of traditional capacities, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan issued a harsh warning regarding bottlenecks in the renewables sector. He denounced the practices of the "new smart guys in energy" — entities that obtain Technical Connection Approvals (ATR) to the national grid without having the financial resources or the intention to actually build wind or solar parks. Their goal is purely speculative: blocking grid capacity to later sell the projects on paper. Why it Matters: Pressure on Security of Supply This dual phenomenon creates a systemic vulnerability. On the one hand, the withdrawal of coal from the national energy mix generates concerns about Romania's ability to secure its domestic consumption. Former President Traian Băsescu recently highlighted that, although a fuel shortage can be avoided, a major concern remains electricity production, directly affected by the "closure of units that operated on coal." On the other hand, if new green production capacities are artificially blocked by speculators, the energy transition is delayed. Real investors, who have the capital to build new power plants, face rejections from grid operators (such as Transelectrica) on the grounds that there is no longer available capacity to absorb the energy. The situation is exacerbated by the tense European context regarding energy prices, a topic recently discussed at the Government with Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport. What's Next: New Regulations and Transparency To unblock real investments, Prime Minister Bolojan announced an imminent new regulation designed to eliminate these speculative practices. It is expected that the new rules, most likely drafted in collaboration with the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), will impose stricter financial guarantees or rigorous execution deadlines to maintain connection approvals. Furthermore, the head of the Executive promised to make public the names of the companies currently blocking grid capacities. This forced transparency could rapidly reshape the market of renewable energy developers in Romania, freeing up vital space in the grid for mature projects. This article was generated with the assistance of Aurora AI and editorially verified.