— The exploitation of lignite in Romania began in a systematic way in the second half of the last century, coal production having over time a significant weight in the national energy mix.

lower demand in the REF-8 scenario in Romania ..... 62 Figure 28 Utilisation rates of lignite (top figure) and lignite and coal (bottom figure) power plants in Romania ..... 63 Figure 29: Aggregated yearly profit of the lignite-fired PPs in Romania 65

The Oltenia Energy Complex is a network of coal mines and power plants, operated by Complexul Energetic Oltenia S.A., in Gorj, Vâlce, and Mehedinţi, Romania. The complex produces 99% of the country's lignite - 18.2 million tonnes in 2022.

 — The current data shows that Romania has hard coal reserves of about two billion tons, of which 600 million tons are in exploited perimeters. Also, Romania's lignite resources are estimated at 690 million tons, of which exploitable in …

 — Romanian coals range from Late Carboniferous, Early Jurassic, Late Cretaceous, Oligocene, to Miocene and Pliocene in age, from hard coals to lignite with numerous and wide applications in metallurgy and steel industry, chemistry and energy.

 — Overall, CE Oltenia has an installed capacity in the four thermal power plants of 3,570 MW and operates nine mining quarries with an annual production of about 21 million tons of lignite.

Lignite resources in Romania are estimated at 690 million tons (124 million tep), of which 290 million tons (52 million tep) can be exploited in concessional perimeters.

 — Central to the phase out is transforming Romania's insolvent state-owned lignite miner and burner, the Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CEO). Perhaps the single worst polluter in the country, CEO's heart is their 6-unit 1.3 GW Rovaniri power plant.

 — In Romania, coal and lignite account for around 16 per cent of energy supply, which is below the level of coal-based power generation in neighbouring Bulgaria, but capacity-wise coal-fired power plants are still there in the system as a backup, although they are rarely utilised.

Lignite mines provide a long-term, secure supply for the Turceni (990 MW) and Rovinari (990 MW) power plants owned by CEO. Further to the south lies the 315 MW CEO Ișalnița power plant, also lignite-fired, and the 300 MW Craiova II owned by SOCIETATEA ELECTROCENTRALE CRAIOVA.