Bulgaria’s coal regions will receive BGN 1.58 billion (EUR 808 million) through the Just Transition program, under the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green hydrogen projects, as well as for converting mining areas for commercial use. With a EUR 598 million program already underway, total investments in the […]
The Romanian government is in talks on postponing the coal power plant closures envisaged under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), according to Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan. The current deadline for decommissioning these plants is the end of 2025, but Romania is hoping to push it back to 2030. Ivan noted that Romania’s gas […]
Romanian state-controlled coal power utility Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia) is preparing to establish a subsidiary to take over its lignite-fired thermal power plants slated for closure and the coal mining operations that supply them. CE Oltenia’s “lignite subsidiary” is envisaged under a restructuring and decarbonization plan approved by the European Commission, according to Profit.ro. […]
Coal deliveries to thermal power plants in the first half of the year reached 73% of the plan, while only 43% of the overburden excavation target was achieved, warned Sanel Buljubašić, CEO of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine (EPBiH). Increasing coal production is the only way to stabilize the energy […]
As of this year, Slovenia’s only coal-fired power plant, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ), has shifted its primary focus to supplying heat, with electricity now sold as a byproduct. The ongoing overhaul of its unit 6 is expected to be completed in the coming days, but the 600 MW block will not be restarted until the end […]
Building photovoltaic plants on abandoned open-pit coal mines could add nearly 300 GW of new solar worldwide, equivalent to 15% of the current global capacity, according to a survey by Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Greece and three Western Balkan countries are among the global leaders in projects to build solar at abandoned coal mines. It […]
Serbia plans to invest EUR 88.8 million by 2030, through its just transition action plan, in activities aimed at mitigating the impacts of the planned reduction in coal-based energy production, and ensuring a just transition. The Ministry of Mining and Energy has published a draft just transition action plan and launched a public debate. Within […]
Bosnia and Herzegovina has secured EUR 83 million for a just transition project, which includes installing renewable power plants, social protection measures, and skills development in coal regions. The funds are for the Federation of BiH, one of the two entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has […]