These measures were included in a protocol signed by the union leaders with minister Ion Ariton and Constantin Jujan, general manager of national pitcoal company CNH.
The protocol also says that the process to create the Hunedoara Energy Complex should begin by November 30, and severance pay and benefits granted to retired miners should be covered from state aid until September 30. By December, the arrears of CNH Petrosani should be cleared, by selling its assets and including them in the Complex, while observing EU Council Decision of December 10, 2010, says the protocol.
The three sides also agreed to support the production of energy by using local coal resources, in accordance with EU Directives on Electricity.
As of January 1, 2011, the coal mines in the Jiu Valley are no longer subsidized. In accordance with a EU decision, state aid may be provided to mines that are to be closed by 2018.
The International Monetary Fund wants Romania to separate viable mines from the non-productive ones, and to minimize the financial losses of the latter ones, according to early-February statements by Jeffrey Franks, the head of the IMF delegation to Romania.
CNH, owned entirely by the state, has around 8,800 employees and operates the mines at Lonea, Petrila, Livezeni, Vulcan, Paroseni, Lupeni and Uricani. The company’s debts to the state budget increased 10% last year, reaching 4.13 billion lei (EUR971 million).
(EUR1=RON4.25)