The draft decision has been put up for public debate on the ministry’s website.
Electrocentrale Deva and Electrocentrale Paroseni are branches of Termoelectrica, a owned by the state through the Economy Ministry.
The Government’s initial plan was to merge the main energy and coal producers into two national companies, called Electra and Hidroenergetica, but this was hindered by legal issues. The Executive is now considering creating two smaller energy companies – the Oltenia Energy Complex and the Hunedoara Energy Complex – according to the letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund.
The Oltenia Energy Complex will be set up through the merger of thermal power stations Turceni, Craiova and Rovinari with national coal company SNLO.
People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX that the viable mines operated by CNH will be integrated into the Hunedoara complex after they are separated from the company, which will be restructured. CNH will be divided by the end of the year and non-viable mines will continue to run, with subsidies, until 2018.
The new energy companies will be privatized by the end of June 2012, a move which will entail layoffs in some of their component operations, says the Government’s latest letter of intent to the IMF. According to the document, restructuring the units with a view toward privatization will entail layoffs; at least 900 jobs will be cut by the end of October, plus another 200 at Turceni.