Romania gas power plant development

The development of new gas-fired power plants in Romania, situated on the sites of former coal-fired facilities, has reached significant technical milestones.

Following the initial turbine tests at the Marosnémeti plant, the Mintia gas power plant, developed by Mass Global Energy Rom, has successfully delivered its first megawatt-hour (MWh) to the Romanian National Energy System. This milestone followed the synchronization of Gas Turbine 1 (TG1) with the grid.

The Mintia project, a private investment exceeding 1.2 billion euros, is currently in a testing phase. Further technical adjustments and testing for a second turbine are planned through late 2026. Once the full cycle is completed, the plant is expected to reach an installed capacity of approximately 1,700 MW, which would provide roughly 20% more power than the combined capacity of the Cernavodă nuclear reactors.

While these developments mark progress toward full commercial production anticipated by mid-2027, economic concerns persist. Alin Munteanu, president of the Alfa Gorj Cartel, has expressed skepticism regarding the transition, noting that gas remains expensive and is subject to carbon dioxide certification costs. Munteanu suggested that facilities like Mintia and Iernut may struggle to operate at maximum capacity due to these economic pressures.