December 1, 2024 - The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a 790 million euro Romanian measure to cover exceptional costs arising from the closure of the four uncompetitive coal mines of Lonea, Lupeni, Livezeni and Vulcan in the Jiu Valley.

The measure will help Romania to phase out coal by 2032 in line with its binding commitment under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Territorial Just Transition Plan. The beneficiary will be Societatea Complexul Energetic Valea Jiului which manages the four mines and the Paroseni power plant with the objective of closing the mining activity.

The measure covers the social costs for workers who have lost or will lose, their jobs due to the closure of the mines and the costs related to the safety and remediation works necessary for the closure of the four mines, in particular to secure mine shafts, repair damage to the environment caused by mining and re-cultivate land after the closure of the four mines. The aid covers eligible costs incurred from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2032.