The 2025-2028 government programe outlines an ambitious agenda for the Romanian energy sector, in which the reform of state-owned companies, accelerating investments and the transition to clean sources become key objectives for Romania’s energy security and competitiveness. Restructuring the system includes professionalising governance, making investments more efficient and stimulating innovation in green technologies.
Reorganisation of the portfolio companies of the Ministry of Energy
The first set of measures aims at optimising administrative and operational costs by reducing expenditure on TESA staff and management functions by 20-30% and limiting spending on protocol or sponsorship.
The ministry is considering strategic mergers, such as the one between Electrocentrale Grup and ELCEN, or between the Research Institute for Lignite Mines and Complexul Energetic Oltenia.
A central plank of the reform is to professionalise the management of state-owned companies in line with OECD standards: open recruitment, free from political influence, performance contracts, fewer board members and the elimination of politicised posts. Boards will be evaluated annually on the basis of a scoreboard with performance indicators, and members who do not meet targets will be removed. At the same time, unjustified benefits such as holiday bonuses will be eliminated and spending on goods and services will be drastically cut, except for investment.
An important new feature is the reinvestment of profits: energy companies will no longer be obliged to issue annual dividends, and the earnings will feed a special fund dedicated to energy investments.
The program deals separately with companies in difficulty. It mentions the handling of the cases of bankrupt CNH Petroșani and RADET, as well as the need to renegotiate the restructuring plan for Complexul Energetic Oltenia, so that the closure of coal-fired units is linked to the commissioning of new gas, photovoltaic and storage capacities. For Electrocentrale Craiova, it is also proposed to finalise the feasibility study for a new gas-fired group, the technical conversion for the 2026-2027 cold season and the transfer of the company to the local authority.
Increase generation capacity
Renewables – massive expansion and integration
Romania aims to install more than 5,000 MW of wind and solar and 3,000 MWh of storage capacity by 2027, with funding from the National Renewable Energy Plan and the Modernisation Fund. Other directions are:
- Launching offshore wind with delimitation of concession perimeters
- Transform mining perimeters into photovoltaic parks with storage
- Financing the photovoltaic battery and cell industrial chain
- Support for lithium and neodymium mining needed to develop turbines and batteries in Romania
Natural gas – 3,500 MW by 2027
In the natural gas sector, the target is to double production from 2027 onwards by exploiting the Neptune Deep and Caragele fields. In parallel, investments in new gas-fired power plants are prioritised, totalling over 3,500 MW in new capacity:
- Ișalnița (850 MW)
- Turceni (475 MW)
- Iernut (430 MW)
- Midia (80 MW)
- Mintia (1.734 MW)
Nuclear – innovative financial measures
To underpin Romania’s ambition to become a regional hub for nuclear technology, the government program proposes innovative financial measures with “disruptive” potential: the issuance of dedicated nuclear bonds as a tool to attract long-term capital; the creation of a tradable energy credit system to reward low-carbon energy production; and the establishment of an international nuclear consortium to mobilise cross-border expertise, resources and investment to accelerate strategic projects such as Units 3 and 4, the development of SMRs or the construction of the waste facility. These financial instruments reflect a paradigm shift in the approach to nuclear investments.
Coal – reserve role and carbon capture technologies
Acceptând că tranziția energetică impune reducerea utilizării cărbunelui, documentul prevede:
- Application of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) and BAT technologies in thermal power plants and the extractive industry with fiscal incentives
- Hydrogen production from coal with CO₂ capture
- Extraction of critical minerals from coal
- Conversion of power plants to hybrid biomass, hydrogen or solar operation
- Conservation of lignite-fired capacity, maintained as a strategic reserve and subsidised as a public service obligation
Finally, the government is taking on the finalisation of hydropower investments that have been blocked for years, such as the Jiu AHE, Răstolița or the Olt and Cerna hydropower projects. In addition, the government is targeting pumped storage hydroelectric power stations (CHEAP) in areas with strategic potential to balance the system.
Modernisation and expansion of energy infrastructure
One of the major targets is to double the cross-border electricity trading capacity to 7,000 MW by 2030 by investing in Transelectrica’s infrastructure. In parallel, Transgaz will carry out projects to develop the natural gas transmission network, with an estimated budget of 2.5 billion lei.
An essential direction is to increase the degree of interconnection with neighbouring markets, in particular through a strategic and operational interconnection with the Republic of Moldova, including the coupling of electricity and gas markets, in order to strengthen Romania’s role as a regional energy security provider.
The extension of natural gas networks will continue under the Anghel Saligny National Programme, targeting localities where access to the network was lacking or partial.
The program also includes the modernisation of centralised district heating and cooling systems (SACETs) in major cities – including Bucharest, Craiova, Constanța, Arad and Râmnicu Vâlcea – by investing in efficiency and reducing network losses.
Competitive market with fair prices and consumer protection
The government is considering a new support mechanism for vulnerable consumers to replace the current cap-and-compensation system after 30 June 2025 (electricity) and 31 March 2026 (gas). It will be based on a new Vulnerable Consumer Act and updated income criteria, underpinned by a National Register of Vulnerable Consumers.
A reform of the cost structure is also invoked, through measures such as the implementation of the binomial tariff for distribution and the establishment of a single buyer for own technological consumption (CPT), in order to reduce the final price of electricity.
For prosumers, the program prioritises investments in storage and changes the legal framework so that local authorities with photovoltaic power plants can deliver surplus energy to vulnerable consumers.
Finally, the role of ANRE and of the Competition Council would be strengthened through digitisation for strict market monitoring, extension of its remit to the offshore area and the implementation of modern tools: AI platforms for regulatory prediction [??? e.n.], long-term contracts and a public-private advisory council for participatory regulation.
De-bureaucratisation and technological modernisation
The chapter dedicated to de-bureaucratisation and digitisation in the 2025-2028 government programme is one of the most ambitious, with a paradigm shift in the way the Romanian state will manage the energy sector, with a focus on administrative efficiency, digital infrastructure and advanced cyber security.
One of the key measures is the digitalization of administrative processes by developing automated platforms for authorisations and strategic decision-making, with the aim of drastically reducing response times – from months to days. A single digital platform for all public services in the sector will be introduced.
In parallel, the programme foresees the codification and streamlining of energy legislation in order to simplify rules and eliminate redundancies.
On the technological side, the digitalization of the energy infrastructure is announced, including the implementation of smart metering and the full migration of data to the Government Private Cloud, in order to increase efficiency and data protection.
A separate chapter covers cyber security in the energy sector. It introduces disruptive solutions such as Digital Twin for infrastructure optimisation, smart materials for retrofitting, robotics for maintenance and gravity storage in old units. State-owned energy companies will adopt mandatory recovery plans, cybersecurity policies and extensive digitisation of processes in the AGM.
Another visionary project envisages the deployment of a nuclear-powered AI Giga Factory, marking a potentially major technological leap in the integration of artificial intelligence with strategic energy infrastructure.
Electrifying and decarbonising transport
Although integrated in a separate chapter, the transport sector plays a key role in Romania’s energy dynamics, through the strong momentum expected to be given to the electrification of mobility and the expected growth in demand for carbon-free electricity. The government programme foresees a series of concrete measures, all financed through the Modernisation Fund, which will accelerate the transition to low-emission transport and put pressure on energy infrastructure.
Among the most relevant measures are the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles on the entire network of motorways, expressways and national roads, as well as their expansion in the private sector, contributing to increasing the density of e-mobility infrastructure.
In parallel, recharging stations and battery charging systems will be installed in Romanian ports, accompanied by investments to increase the capacity of the local electricity grid, preparing logistic nodes for an electrified future.
Another major program aims to “green” airport and port operations by replacing energy-intensive equipment and machinery with zero-emission equipment – an important step towards decarbonising logistics and freight.
Finally, the program supports the replacement of the national transport fleet, both road and rail, as well as maritime and inland waterways, with zero-emission vehicles and equipment, contributing directly to the decarbonisation goals, but also to transforming the energy system into a provider of clean mobility services. These measures imply a paradigm shift in the interaction between transport and energy networks.
Conclusion
There is no lack of ambition or vision in this government program – on the contrary, the document offers a coherent, well-articulated and forward-looking strategic architecture. From the restructuring of state-owned companies and accelerating investment in new capacities, to the deep digitalization of the administration and the electrification of transport, the government proposes an integrated package of potentially transformative measures. New elements – be they financial, technological or institutional – are emerging that could respond to the pressures of the energy transition, the need for security and the requirements of the competitive market.
It remains for this vision to be underpinned by administrative capacity, continuity of decision-making and disciplined implementation. It is a starting point for the private and associative energy sector to monitor and support government efforts. A first step might be to list clear measures with clear deadlines of implementation for each of the main goals and principles listed above. Energynomics is here for gathering and publishing your ideas!
